good luck bob, i hope they can make a quick diagnosis one way or another, it will help you move forward. i was diagnosed last year after very similar symptoms to your own, my right quadriceps was cramped up and numb when i woke up one day and was like that for over 6 months. i am in remission now, i guess. the mri should be able to tell you if your doctors are on the right track. i have also had the incontinence problems during the first month of my attack, and i understand that it is not the easiest to deal with. glad youre here, this place helped me immensely, i learned way more about ms here than from my dr or anywhere else.

Clark is right......you get the "real deal" here from those who live with it every day. No doctor or specialist can offer you that!

Thanks again. Like I said in my original post, the brain MRI showed normal and the other MRI's show issues with my spine. I've been told that a normal brain MRI does not rule out MS though.

Oh, and my age is 45.

Why isn't my picture showing on the left? I uploaded one....hmmmm.

It's showing on your profile page.

If you will click on "User CP" (upper left of this page) you'll see "edit avatar" under the Settings and Options title. Click on "edit avatar" and you'll be able to upload your picture to your avatar. Good luck!

Got it...thanks.

Hi Sgt Bob,

I was diagnosed at age 44 after five months of tests, doctors and stress. I had similar symptoms to yours that caught my attention. When it affected my mobility it got my attention. I hope it isn't MS but something less but even if it is, it isn't all that bad in most cases. We have treatments now and it can be very manageable.

I'm 53 now and still walking and working full time. I can't do as much as I used to, but eventually I learned to cope. I learned that getting enough rest, keeping stress levels under control and a healthy lifestyle are very important.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Sarge is a hunk. Too bad he's my son's age..LOL

Unfortunately, that is all but impossible in the Army.

If I do, in fact, have MS the good news is that the Army will medically retire me with 100% disability and benefits. Then, I should be able get plenty of rest, keep stress to a minimum, etc...

As an Air Force wife of 20 years, I too went through the military process to try and get a diagnosis. Hind sight being 20/20 ....... I had numerous symptoms and would call to make an appointment only to get a different doctor each time. Consistency is key here.
Hopefully the health system keeps you with a Neurologist.
I had military friends who were diagnosed with M.S. using the military health system.......the hard part is getting all the criteria for a diagnosis to hit at the same time. Your doc my suspect M.S., so that is the path he/she is trying to take to get a diagnosis. There are only so many things they can test. Evoked Potentials would tell if you are failing some key things that you may not really even notice! These tests can be helpful, but only certain positive tests can give a confirmed diagnosis.....one of those being a positive MRI consistent with M.S. The others are: symptoms that reoccur over different time frames.
Disc problems can cause some real havoc. I had some issues I blamed on MS for years that were actually coming from cervical neck issues.

Bottom line....don't get freaked out. Many things mimic M.S. If you are 45 you must be at the tale end of your enlistment? If so, think about life insurance etc BEFORE there are any diagnosis made such as M.S. Are you close enough to retire or would they put you into disability retirement? Insurers won't want you with a chronic disease. Thats just something to think about.
For 12 years (during the military years) I had a clean MRI so no diagnosis. Symptoms came and went and a couple distressing ones stuck around....Boo.
I think the Military Docs tried, but all the ducks were just not in a row yet. And with that in mind we all have to wait. No one ever told me that I "may have M.S." However; after getting my military records for a civilian to review, they had made notes about a suspicion. I guess I'm glad they never mentioned it so I would not worry. The other side of the coin is....there is a relief when a diagnosis is made so that you can confirm your sanity!
Note: I was diagnosed in 2002 and I still do most things and have slowed down on somethings I probably would have slowed on anyway due to age (53). I take the meds and my disease is stable. Your anxiety is normal at this stage of the game and we have all traveled that road. (Once for a week I locked myself in the bathroom for a couple hours and took a jet bath and cried my eyes out). That was before I knew for sure and not knowing is worse.

I won't ramble on anymore.....peace be with you and hey; THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

Thanks for the feedback....and you are most welcome.

I have a new symptom now! Last night, my feet started to tingle like they had no circulation and started to cramp.

Regarding your questions about my current status. I just returned to duty after a 17 year break (long story) and have a total of almost 9 years. I have been told that any medical discharge with over 30% disability is considered a medical retirement now.