A month or 2 after my dx last March, I noticed some things going on with my left leg. The first thing was that when my left foot hit a cold floor, it was like a cold shot went up my leg. Shortly afterwards, I noticed that there was some skin mottling on my left thigh that got more pronounced after a hot shower. My PCP was stumped -- he said that it resembled Livedo Reticularis but it didn't quite fit the bill. My MS specialist refused to even look at it (seriously, what a guy!), saying that it wasn't MS related. Over the last two months or so, it's even been slightly painful at times.

I FINALLY had my appointment with the dermatologist today and his best guess is that it's something called Cutis Marmorata. Most of my sx have been left-sided and in my gut, I have felt that this is MS related, some type of neurological dysfunction. (Not yet confirmed by my MS specialist but from the radiologist's last report, I believe that one of my brain lesions is in a place that relates to thermoregulatory function.) The dermatologist can't say with any certainty but he thinks it's it's a possibility. They don't know what causes this and it's really mostly an infant thing although it does occur in adults. (I never thought I'd wear my mental age on my leg! )

Does this sound familiar to anyone? It's not the worst thing in the world and it's not AT ALL as pronounced in the photos I've seen on the internet but I can't say I like it. Not that pretty and not that pleasant.

Of course, I'd love to not have this but above all, I want to make sure that this is what it is, and nothing more serious. Has anyone had a skin condition or small blood vessel involvement spurring from their MS?

I have pretty significant skin mottling...but I've had it for a long time. I have no idea if it's related to MS.

But if you search google with the terms multiple sclerosis and autonomic dysfunction you'll find lots of abstracts about how MS patients autonomic systems (everything from respiration to cardiovascular functioning) are affected by MS. It's pretty interesting reading.

Thanks for the reply, rdmc. Yup, I believe it. Most of my sx are on my left side so that also made me suspect it might well be MS related. My PCP was concerned and even called my MS specialist, who simply said it wasn't MS related and refused to even look at it during my next visit.

I was dx'd with livedo reticularis and it can go from pretty severe to mild - my case is moderate.

My skin will look normal, and with a shot of cold air I'll turn purple with white spots for exmple. And it could be that it's my hand that gets cold (reach into the freezer) and my lower legs will discolor. It's pretty weird.

No two people have exactly the same discoloration color/pattern etc, and it does go away.

It often goes along with Reynauds syndrome - I have that too.

Dx'd with both at the same time by a migraine specialist/neuro. my other neuros all agreed with the dxs. No meds were given, because they usually do channel/calcium blockers for serious cases, and mine's not that bad, plus I can't take that kind of med.

I use fish oil supps for other reasons, but that seems to really help with it.

Years ago, before I was diagnosed, I had some bad swelling of my left ankle. I also had a lot of varicosity in that leg - much more than my right, and I still have problems with circulation. So I get a lot of purplish-greenish mottling in that leg and ankle that looks worse when I exercise or take a shower.

However, I haven't found anything I can point my finger to and say "This is MS." A lot of people have circulation problems without having MS... Still, it's weird. My right ankle and leg are fine - it's just the left.

That's what my PCP likened it to but as the dermatologist confirmed, it's definitely not that. I'm still a little perplexed that it now seems to be a syndrome most common in infants.

This disease is wacky.