Hi Guys

Sorry if this question has been asked before but.....

I have been having lots of problems with weakness/numbness/loss of strength (or perceived loss of strength)/fatigue/incoordination in my left side (particularly arm and leg - but also like a general weight carried everywhere). Sometimes weak, sometimes really heavy - like filled with concrete. I have been Dx'd RRMS for nearly 12 years now.

I am left-handed - so my question is, do you find you have more symptoms on your dominant side? I get few things on my right, but most of my issues are on my left. I have read an article about MS attacking more frequently used nerve pathways, which was fascinating, but when I got to the end, they were selling supplements - so I thought perhaps it may have been 'witch-doctory' in action.

I would appreciate everyone's input on this one. Does your MS affect you more on your dominant side - or does it not discriminate and get you anywhere and everywhere?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Regards

Lyn

I'm right-handed and it's my right hand that has been numb for years. I've somewhat gotten used to it and can now use my right hand more than I could when it was first affected.

I've learned to use my left hand and now I'd say that it is my dominate one. Except for writing I use my left hand almost exclusively now.

But what's weird is that it's my left leg that is my weakest leg. It's always the one that gets spasticity worse than the other.

I know what it is......I'm lopsided!

Seriously, this is me to a "T". Left side face numb/itchy, left shoulder blade pins 'n needles. Left arm & leg weakness...I've always been ambidextrous...right handed writing but left side predominant.

I am right-handed, but my most consistent problens have been on my left. Hug, spasticity in my leg, etc. It was the left side of my bdoy that went numb when I had my first major relapse. My right hand does now go numb if I have spent too much time playing games on my kindle.

This has me thinking of where most of my sx present themselves.

I've had a bad time lately with the hug. Air hunger.....as some call it......but much, much better today. The hug has been in my right side this time.

I've also noticed that my left hand seems to be weaker than normal but I'm wondering if it's just because I use it so much more than my right one?

Does anyone get "the itchies" or is it just me? I remember my Dad complaining about his back itching and we nearly went broke buying every kind of anti-itch cream available but nothing worked. Now, I have the itchy back and nothing seems to help it. I can almost hear my Dad snickering because I'm sure I was less than patient with him about this at times and now.....here I am with the same thing.

I'm right side dominant. I can use my left hand for some things but my "preference" is the right. Most of my symptoms occur on the left side. But, I will note that my right hand/arm is severely impaired (97% impairment) per testing but I use it normally as anyone else who is right handed would. My brain must have rewired something and fairly quickly as I never really noticed the damage other than tremors but I have that in both hands.

I have only had rightsided trouble with my leg during flares.

Kelly - I get the itchy back thing too but I think mine is just dry skin. A soak in an Epsom Salt & olive oil bath helps resolve the itching for me.

Kitty, I've had the "itchies" since this all started. No rash, no hives...just want to sometimes scratch my skin off...happens again, mostly on left side (except for nostrils & ear canals equally affected); mostly later afternoon & evening. It is found on the MS "less common" list of symptoms, along with swallowing issues.

Aren't we lucky ducks???

Lyn, Thank heavens, I'm right side dominant and
my left side has always been my weak MS
affected side.

I have never been able to write with my left hand,
but I was so surprised at how much I've noticed and
miss the use of my left hand. I do PT/OT every
day to keep it useful and that does work to some extent.

Kelly, yes to the darn itches and not just my back.
I keep my skin as clean and lotion fed, as I am able
and that helps, but nothing cures the MS itchies.

Hi guys

Thanks for the info - seems MS doesn't discriminate. It's just coincidental that most of my stuff is left-sided (contrary to the research/advertisement I read recently about affecting more developed nerve pathways - and thus moreso on the dominant side).

I must say, I have had the burning, and some itching - but nothing as bad as the itching you guys have described. Thanking my lucky stars for that - it sounds really nasty!

Lynn

I thought that I would add my 2cents worth then again it may not be worth that much. My weak side is my right side. I was left handed at a young age when I started school in rural America the teachers forced me to do everything with my right hand so over the years I became more ambidextrous.