Hi Jan, I didn`t have numbness at the start, and have never had O/N, although my vision can be blurry for short periods at times.

I couldn`t pass the drunk test, the first sign to my PCP that it might be something besides the CFS they had dx`ed me with. It did take a while for me to get a dx. Brain mri, c-spine mris, then repeats of them and a t-spine about a year later. My LP was negative.

(Although this really doesn't answer your question) . . . The most and least common symptoms are in the attached link:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/sit...ABOUT_symptoms

I was completely numb when I got the dx and I imagine it is a very common first complaint pointing to clearly something neurological going on. In retrospect though, one of my first symptoms probably occurred about 15 yrs earlier when my knee kept buckling.

Some of the other common symptoms, like bowel issues, cognitive problems, dizziness, depression, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, etc. can be explained away by so many other conditons, but numbness or eye problems (combined with other clinical evidence) would not be something that most of us would ignore.

Cherie

Jan - I think you already know my story, but I was dx'd without ever having had symptoms.

Guess I was "lucky" because I had a positive MRI with enhancements, a positive 2nd MRI with more enhancements and some new lesions and a positive LP. The first doc was sure, but the second doc confirmed it.

I hope you get an answer soon.

Yes I am very aware that MS is unique in its presentation and even that changes from time to time

BUT, when my MS doc said to me in 2005, "we'll treat this as MS"..then walked down the hall, I followed him and asked, Well when would I need to contact you?" He said, "When you go numb!"

So.. I have never gone numb. Numb-like, tingling, now almost constant buzzing all I can live with. Even my cog fog, swallowing, chronic fatigue, balance have ALL improved with this super nutrition program I have been on.

I do think in MY case its an accumalative build up of chemicals/foods that cause me neuro symptoms. Maybe...maybe not.

I just dont know if I will just give up on waiting for a MS DX. I have now another NEURO that DX me with sleep apnea and probable Narcolepsy that explains my sudden "altered consciousness" problems.

Thanks... just wondered if you can get a MS DX without NUMBNESS.

Jan

Oh yeah, I have spasticity daily too. Is that a symptom of ANY other disease process???

No numbness here either but I've always thought that presenting with double vision puts you on the fast track to diagnosis.

Considerable numbness is often a sign that we have spinal lesions, which can be very destructive. Perhaps during periods of numbness and/or ON is when he would decide to offer steroids . . . ?

So you are not on the CRABs? If he is "treating this as MS", I wonder why he did not offer them to you right then and there? Perhaps he is less aggressive in his approach to what he might view as "benign MS" . . .? On the other hand, a neuro down the street might have you on Tysabri within a split second.

Each specialist seems to have a different and unexplainable approach.

Sounds like whatever you are doing is helping you though. What is this super nutrition program you've started on, may I ask . . . sounds interesting?

Cherie

Actually, Cherie, and others, I trust my MS neuro and the new neuro as well.
Again, my neuro exams are "good".. even when my balance was poor.

Now my balance and other symptoms have improved AND gone away since starting to see the specialized Nutritionist. His program/evaluation is amazing. So much so, that my MS neuro, who is really into spirituality and nutrition himself, told me to return to the nutritionist as he helped me in the past.

This guy uses "NRT"or nutritional response testing" which is a way your body and autonomic system, or electromagnetic energy is read in such a way that tells you what you are toxic from or decifient in.

Even my hubby who has had epilepsy with over 46 YEARS of meds was toxic. IN fact chlorine/bleach was the heavy metal that was poisoning him along with too high levels of his meds. YOu see, my DH, who is a long distance swimmer, drowned 2 times!!! NOT from seizures as thought, but from breathing IN the chlorine. AND his mom washed his clothes in chlronine bleach.
My DH had several ER visits that told us he was at toxic levels with his meds.I just couldnt get his family (who he lived with during the weekdays) while I was working or his doctor to listen to me. I wrote his doctor a letter about my concerns with his toxicity.

SADLY... my DH DIED this past summer.
The nutritionist was right, he WAS toxic and it killed him, shutting off his brain. My DH's doctor was really upset as well.

All I know is since starting a natural detox and nutritional program, my balance improved, my cog stuff imrproved, memory better, my swallowing problem is gone, my really bad fatigue, is GONE and I have food allergies from the "good foods" like whole wheat, soy, SUGAR, gluten.

Now I have to do MY Part and eat better to FEEL BETTER!!

So even if my MS doc offered me DMDs I would probably not take them at this point. Thats MY point of view.

I have pretty much given up chasing a MS DX at this point.

Jan

I'm sorry about what happened to your DH, Jan.

I don't happen to take the CRABs, or steroids, so I understand your reluctance. I also understand toxicity to drugs as they were unable to save my mom from a treatable cancer due to drug toxicity (used for another condition).

In 1994, deaths from legal medications represented 4.6% of deaths, and they were the 4th highest leading cause of death in the US. Chances are those statistics are even higher now.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/NEWSDrugEffects.htm

I've never heard of NRT. I'll have to look into that, thanks.

Cherie

Well,I've had a large numb area on the back of my neck down btw my shoulder blades that's been like that for about 2 and a half years or so I though to myself that's weird and just didn't really think about much more and went on with my life until I was dx'ed with ON and then I started doing research about MS and read about Numbness being a symptom and I have two lesions in my C-spine one is btw C-2 and C-3 and so I assume that's why the numbness is right there and I know that's it's permenant it's been longer than 2 and a half years so I assume the feeling is gone forever.