i have only had ms for a year and a 1/2, and i thought it would be year before i felt this way, i am in constant pain, i can sleep, i have trouble walking. i get so tired i feel like i will pass out. i am 37 years old, i have tree very active children their ages are six, eleven, and seventeen. i had to drop my hours at work from 32 to 15 and i am barely hanging on. my ms Dr said to me you have ms and start dealing with it, but i can get pass the pain. i was enrolled in school for dental hygienist and was almost ready to sign up for my program after three years of pre-recs. but the pain in my hands and feet made me put everything a side. how do you change who you are because your sick?

Welcome to NeuroTalk, jakemike2!

I am sorry that hand pain has sidelined you. Is it possible you're in a flare?

I was diagnosed with MS a year and a half ago, too, but suspect I've had it for years. I've given myself "permission" to slow down to allow for it (older than you). If I'm really busy one day (I work P/T), I'll take it easy the next to give my body time to rest.

But with your 3 children you'll be lucky to have that luxury! I think it was smart to cut your work hours back.

You didn't say where you live. My options are pretty limited as far as MS specialists, but I fired the doc that diagnosed me and opted for another, even further away (3+ hours). I would suggest looking into getting another doc who is more compassionate and has other recommendations besides "deal with it."

Also, you didn't say what MS drug (if any) you are taking. There are a growing number of us that are on LDN (low dose naltrexone). You can click on "Search", then "tag search", then LDN to read the threads. It has given me more stamina and clarity of thought (been taking it 4+ months).

Good luck to you, jakemike2! I hope you find something to help you with the pain.

sounds kind of harsh for the doctor to say...

it's sad but true, doctors sometimes rely on cliches.

while there are MANY good neuros out there, sometimes we have to get a lousy one, to realize the difference.



I'm so sorry to hear your MS is making you so miserable, but have you considered getting a second opinion?

that's what I did, and it made a WORLD of difference for me.

Jake, you didn't mention the cause of your pain, or how you and your doctor are treating it.

perhaps the pain in your hands is spasticity, and needs some Baclofen to be brought under control?

also, don't assume every ailment is MS... it's totally possible to get *other* things as well, have you been looked at for injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome?

the reason I asked is... I had a friend who suddenly went blind in his right eye.

thinking it was the MS rearing its ugly head again, he *ignored* it, and kept on going... BUT... when he finally went in for new glasses a year later, turns out it WASN'T the MS as all, it was an easily treatable (in the early stages!) ailment, and his delay in seeking treatment almost cost him his VISION.

oh, and last, but definitely not least, WELCOME to NeuroTalk, and I hope you stay around... there's a great bunch of supportive and knowledgeable people here to help you get through this ordeal.

Hi and welcome to NeuroTalk! There is a very large MS community here and a forum just for us. Here it is.....http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum17.html. It's hard to slow down....took me a while but I had to. Like the others have said it may be time to look for a new doctor. Your current one sounds a little unsympathetic. Twink suggested LDN.....I'm on that, too, and it makes a world of difference for me. I still deal with pain but it's semi-controlled with OTC meds. The biggest benefit I've noticed is that I can stay awake all day.....and remember what I've done!

Please visit our forum. You'll meet many caring and supportive people there who truly understand what you're going through.

Hello and welcome to Neuro Talk, do not hesitate to explore the site and get to know the many wonderful people here again welcome to NT

second opinions are the best things in the world

hello and welcome to neuro talk ... sorry to hear you have an insensitive doctor ... like the others ... i suggest you see another doctor as "deal with it" is NOT an acceptible answer to anything much less MS ... i sure hope you set that doctor straight if you do continue to see him/her ... anyway ... there are lots of supportive and friendly people here ... i hope to see you in some of the forums ... again ... welcome to the group

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. We are all here to assist each other as possible.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene