I went to the neurologist today to go over my MRI results. I have had migraines since I was in my early 20's and I am 32 now. It really ticks me off that no one would listen to me about my headaches when I was in my 20's (I have waited 10 years for a stupid doctor to agree that I need referral for a neurologist). The headaches just get worse with age and everything I do triggers a headache (sort of like everything gives you cancer....well everything gives me a headache). My westergren and c-reactive was elevated and my ANA results are positive....I am also positive for lupus anticoagulant. Anyway to get to the point my MRI shows signs of MS and I have to go back for an MRI with contrast. The doctor was saying I don't have any symptoms except for the headaches that get worse with age and the episode when I couldn't feel my hands 2 weeks ago. It felt like my hands had been injected with lidocane and I had a splitting headache, then the feeling in my hands suddenly reappeared after not feeling them for an hour. Have any of you been diagnosed and not have many symptoms at first?

Welcome to NeuroTalk Emali..

I never had the migraines, but had 12 years of subtile MS symptoms, before I complained to my PCP and he sent me to a Neuro. They didn't have MRIs back in the stone age, but I was pretty quickly DX with MS from other tests and the elimination of other illnesses.

Hang in there and, other than the horible headaches, be thankful you aren't plagued with other symptoms. I pray it stays that way and they find a cure/treatment for you headaches.

I was told for years that its a migraine syndrome, and they left it at that. didnt tell me that my MRI was full of lesions, just migraine syndrome. made me mad when I found out a decade later that I could have been doing something about MS years ago, and not just being patted on the head.

Nope, mine wasnt quick. it waited till a boat load of sx showed up to finally get a diagnosis.

hi ali (can i call you that?),

i never had headaches but when i was finally dx'd with MS i had had it for "some time". as i thought back i could see certain sx's (symptoms).

start to accumulate a medical file on yourself. imho i think this is so important. get copies of the mri discs. and the reports. that's ever in case you see another dr.

after you have the contrast mri and you see your dr ask him/her what the plan is to treat your headaches, and MS if you're dx'd.

hang in there. take one thing at a time. you can always come here for info and support.

Thanks everyone for your answers. Now that I look back I can definitely see there is something going on, possible Hughes Syndrome if not MS. The reason I say Hughes Syndrome is because it is often diagnosed as MS because many of the symptoms match (although MS is EXTREMELY more debilitating). I have had the brain fog since my 20's and the brain fog is the worst after a migraine attack. I remember hitting my mid 20's and my right big toe was always numb, I thought those things happened to everyone. I am always tired and I accuse myself of being lazy (I have to remind myself that a lazy person doesn't want to do....and I WANT TO DO). Then the migraines started and have become more painful and frequent with age. I also got patted on the head and I was told to relax it is just stress. I don't know if sleep paralysis is connected to MS at all but I noticed before a bout of migraines I experience sleep paralysis and within a few days I have migraine after migraine. I have horrible eczema on my hands, my right hand is the worst and it hasn't cleared up no matter what I do....this has been going on for 12 years. I also have frequent urination, it is ridiculous and drives me crazy. This past month my hip started going out on me for no reason at all and it just hurts like hell, I feel like someone has been beating me. I am also depressed and paranoid to the point of being manic, but I have a beautiful family and I have nothing to be depressed about (thank god). Honestly I really don't know what is going on, but I have always considered myself healthy because I look healthy and everyone tells me I am healthy....but honestly I don't really feel very healthy and haven't felt that way for a long time....I know that it is not normal to feel this way.

I am just going to peek in here for a moment...

Rashes that won't go away, numbness, neuropathy, migraines, all can be due to gluten intolerance.

Please look into this...here is our Gluten forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum13.html

Over the years I have been on health boards... there have been some people who turned out to be Gluten intolerant and have similar MS like symptoms (along with what you have already!).
So please do check that out.

My MS out of full blown relapse is exactly as you describe: Migraine/head pains.

I did have 2 hallmark symptoms during relapse that satisfied my diagnosis: L'Hermittes Sign and girdle-banding (sensory MS symptoms).

I went years (migraines began at childhood) thinking I was just suffering really bad migraines and I had crappy luck to be getting them... but them the inflammation process of MS just took over, and that's when all the other symptoms (though for the most part, sensory) crept up on me and got me into a doc's (several, what a rotten experience going through so many to get answers).

I hope it's not MS and you do get answers and relief.