[gdmcor]

Hi, I'm new to this board, but not to MS. I've had it for 28 years. Last night I had a very scary thing happen in a restaurant of all places.

On our way to the table, my left leg gave began to feel very weak and painful, a weird kind of pain I've never experienced before. I could not go on, could not walk. I grabbed onto my husband and just collapsed. After about 5 minutes I seemed to be okay, just wobbly.

We left and went to the ER shortly after that because I was afraid I may have had a stroke, I also have a PFO. Plus it was so sudden, I didn't know what to think.

CAT scan showed no bleeding in the brain, blood work was normal, as was an EKG. The doctor and I decided it must have been an MS episode. Today my legs are wobbly and weak, plus I feel pretty run down.

I was wondering if anyone has had an experience like this before. I would hate to be alone and have this happen again. I'm thinking of buying a good cane to take to places like the grocery store when I'm by myself.

Comments or suggestions from anyone would be appreciated. Thanks!
Gretchen

[SallyC]

Hi Gretchen, welcome to our side of the fence.. I'm only
surprised that in your almost 30 yrs, of MS, that that's the
1st time you experienced that sx. I experience it frequently.
Are you on any MS meds?

I'm glad you found us. Stick around and join us.

[ewizabeth]

That happened to me many times in the first few years after diagnosis. One fall ended up with a broken foot. I learned to really pace myself and pay attention to my symptoms, and luckily for me I have had a long remission.

[samrose86]

I haven't been diagnosed and am somewhat new to all this, but my right leg collapsed on me when I tried getting about of bed about a month ago. I could move it around just fine when I tried to stand it was like it wasn't even there and I fell. I tried again, same thing happened. The third time it was okay. It was so strange and I panicked. I just figured I had slept on it weird and it was seriously asleep or something but there wasn't any tingling or pain. I never thought to associate it with MS. Is that even a typical symptom? Like I said I have had some symptoms, but when I had my MRI and blood work done a couple yrs ago they were clear.

I'm sorry I cant offer advice, but just letting you know a similar situation happened to me too!

[gdmcor]

Hi guys! Thanks for your responses, it helps to know others have been there.
Most of my symptoms have been fatigue, balance problems, dizziness, blurred vision, and some weakness, but never the falling.

I'm not on any of the MS meds and never have been, not even steroids.

I'm wondering if anyone else gets the pain when there knee/leg goes out. It was so weird and very debilitating. Luckily it only lasted a few minutes - that seemed like forever!

Is it like a spasm? How about medication that's helpful? Steroids?
I have been having dental surgery and issues there, so I'm thinking my immune system has been in overdrive, thus the increased MS symptoms.

Thanks again.....Gretchen - I'll try to visit more often and impart some of my many years of experience.

[anon1028]

you know, I suffer from tbi symptoms, and they terrify me, and have really debilitated me, but you guys, with this fearsome illness, just seem to fight through and live life. it is a very admirable trait and I am trying to learn it.

[Lynn]

Yeah, I've done this - on a marble staircase, at my sister-in-law's birthday party, in the main street of my town, between classrooms at work, in the middle of a conference dinner.....

Never a good look - sometimes with a warning, sometimes with none - just all of a sudden my legs (my left leg really - and the other follows, along with the rest of me) just go. Occasionally it starts with foot drop and a trip that I can't recover - but usually no warning at all, until I hit the floor (road, stairs, etc).

My Neuro put me on Topamax - said it might help with getting electrical signals to the right spot. So far, after five falls in three months, pulled muscles and dozens of bruises before I saw him and stated the tabs, I have only had one minor fall in the last four months.

[gdmcor]

It sure was a horrible feeling and experience, one I hope is never that bad again.

markneil - What is tbi? Having had MS for so long, with so many ups and downs, I've learned to live with it, sink or swim, as they say. New stuff always comes hard though.

Lynn, I guess the Topamax is helping, so glad to hear it. Any bad side effects?

Thanks guys! Gretchen

[tkrik]

Hi Gretchen! I've fallen more than once. Luckily, most my falls have been close to home. For a long time, every time I turned a left corner, I would fall. It was really weird and yet funny. That has since gone away and I started using my cane which helped. I have had more close calls than actually falling. These close calls happen all the time but I have always been able to grab on to something to break the fall. My last out of the home event was last week. I went to PT and when I got out of the car my right leg wouldn't cooperate and got caught on the door jamb of the car. I caught myself and didn't fall but definitely looked around to see if anyone noticed.

Is it possible you are having an exacerbation? Maybe a call to your neuro would be a good idea since you are still having some trouble.

And, btw, TBI is traumatic brain injury.

[SallyC]

Good Wishes Mark!!