What MS symptoms are considered to be an "emergency"?
 

Reason I'm asking is that I woke up yesterday with numbness down my right hip and leg (actually starts at about the ribcage and wraps around my back on the right side and stomach...and yes, it goes into an area that I wont mention) Left leg is numb too, but it doesnt seem to go as high as what's going on in the right side.

Today I feel like I'm having problems walking...feel very very stiff. I just got back from taking my mom to her physical therapy appointment (she broke her shoulder in february) and the PT therapist there said it looked like I was limping and that I was not moving my right side very much.

Right now I'm the most worried that I've ever been with an MS symptom before...at least since the first experience I had with ON.

I think this is all stress related (mom's broken shoulder, and some houseguests that cause me a lot of stress)

Before I woke up all numb yesterday, I'd been having some pretty serious pain in my heels. Thought it was plantar fasciitis, but the pain went away yesterday when things went numb. I can feel a bunch of tightness in my feet tho...and I feel like everything is stiff.

Oh...and it feels like it's affecting me in issues relating to using the bathroom.

I called my neuro (he's off today) but I'm waiting for one of the other neuros to call me back in a little bit. Hope they hurry, I'm feeling a lot disturbed by this whole thing.


Oh yeah, saw my neuro last week...was feeling fine except for the numb left hand, doctor told me my MS was in remission. I think he jinxed me or something.

I don't think there is a 'rule', if you feel you need to go...go, I waited too long...and wham bamm thank you maam...hospital vacation.

If you've been having sx for more than two days, it could be a flare...so you take care of yourself and try to get more rest.:hug::hug:

Long time no see, Ms.524. Where you been hiding?

I think if you see it as an emergency, then go and be seen.
If the thought of a day's wait to be checked over is too much, then I'd probably go to bed instead.
If you don't think it's serious enough for steroids then chances are you'll wait around all day and decline any treatment anyway. In which case go to bed.
If you're unsure, go to bed.
I can hear my neuro now... 'Well a bit of numbness is nothing serious, just sensory stuff. Go to bed and rest'.

But that's just an opinion from a girl who likes her bed and shouldn't be taken as a definitive answer or above the advice of anyone who has any actual medical training :)

One the neuros from my neuro's office called me back. He told me to just keep an eye on it and if I feel anything getting worse than what it is to call them back.

He said that if it was something really bad, it would probably come on slowly, so if I feel like it's getting worse, to call them.

I felt a little bit better after talking to him. I'm still numb as hell and my clothes are driving me bonkers (numb skin and certain types of clothing amd fabric just doesnt mix), but I feel better for having talked to that neuro.

Part of my problem is I'm being stressed out by some stuff going on at home, and then the MS likes to remind me that I have MS occasionally and when it happens while I'm being stressed out by someone/something else, it just makes me more and more stressed.

I really really really hate being numb. I hate vertigo more and I'm glad that I dont have vertigo now, but I really hate being numb. It's just so uncomfortable! (and painful sometimes if there's burning or the freezing cold feelings)

The MS is just ticking me off. I wish it would stop reminding me that it's there.

I havent been hiding, just taking care of my mom and her broken shoulder...and then I got obsessed with trying to learn to knit socks. (still no socks yet, but now I can do a different type of cast on, and I learned how knit a tube without having a handful of little tiny knitting needles)

and I've got visitors at home, and for some reason with all the computers that are turned on in the house, my internet is really running slow lately.

I know numbness is one of those symptoms that feels so weird that you think it must be an emergency....when you talk to the doctor tho, they're like...so...you're numb, *yawn*, what's the big problem you called me for?...

What was bugging me a lot was the fact that I feel like my lower body is super stiff and that it feels like I'm having a problem walking. Kind of like I'm limping but not really limping. Having to walk thru oatmeal or something.

that, and the feeling of total exhaustion that is hitting me today. I just cant sleep tho. I feel like crap too. But, anytime I've ever had numbness anywhere my hips or torso, it really makes me feel sick. Might just be the uncomfortableness about it that makes me feel sick.

I dont have a fever, I dont think I have a UTI (for once) and I dont think I have any other infections creeping around in me. (had a sinus infection last month along with a possible UTI, after taking the abx for that, I felt better than I had for a few months. Until this weekend.

I'm tempted to go to my regular doctor and get my blood tested...B-12, thyroid (I have no history of thyroid problems, but it doesnt hurt to check it) and maybe see if I'm anemic... If my regular neuro calls me in the morning to check on me, I'll ask him what he thinks about that idea.

I just dont feel good.

A more or less sudden onset of incontinence, in my opinion, is worthy of at least a call to the doctor to see if you can get seen on an urgent basis.

It's an emergency, if you think it is. :hug:

well, so far it's not an emergency for me yet. I can still go potty without any problems...that area is just numb and feels really weird tho. (make it go away! Being numb in that area is really freaky)

Tonight, I'm feeling really stiff. It's going down my back...from about the level where my bra strap is, down to my toes. The most uncomfortable part of the stiffness and numbness is at my waist (about where the waistband of pants would be) and wearing clothing is driving me nuts. I'm guessing that's allodynia. (sp?) I cant wear my jeans at all, and wearing my cotton shorts is barely tolerable. Sweatpants arent too horrible feeling tho.

It hurts too, right at the base of my spine and in the small of my back. Kind of like something is tightening around my spine. Not bad yet, just annoying.

I dont quite understand the sick feeling I'm feeling. I just feel so uncomfortable. Like I want to crawl out of my body.

I keep falling asleep, it's like I just cant stay awake and I'm so exhausted. This is so annoying. I feel like I'm being tortured and I'm almost to the point where I'll admit to the Kennedy assassination (6yrs before I was born) just to get some relief.

I'm half tempted to call my neuro and beg for steroids, altho I'm pretty sure they wont help me. Didnt work for my left hand last fall and made me feel really really weird. (that was oral steroids...I think if I were begging for 'roids right now it'd be IVSM)

It's only been about 3 days. Woke up like this monday morning. I'd done a ton of walking with my boyfriend and his dad sunday night. Was super exhausted when I got home that night. I remember just before going home, my back felt really tight from all the walking. That's a similar feeling to the weird sensation in my back that I have right now too.

Have you checked for the dreaded UTI?

Not yet, but I dont have any symptoms of a UTI (yeah, I was shocked too).

I havent had one for about a month and a half, and it's iffy that I actually had one then. Had all the symptoms, but the test came back clear. I also had a sinus infection at the same time, so the doctor at the doc-in-a-box I went to gave me an abx that was broad spectrum just in case I did have a UTI.

I may just go to my doctor's office tomorrow (if I can get an appointment) and have them check my blood for vitamin problems or anemia, and I'll pee in a cup for them just in case.

I havent been this tired since I was recovering from having mononucleosis. I think I feel asleep while I was writing this post.

I just hate this stupid numb feeling. I know neuros dont think of numbness as a symptom that needs much addressing, but geeze, it sure would be nice i they had a drug that would make the numbness go away. This is torture! (I'll talk, I'll talk!! just make it stop!!!!!)

Erin, my numbness usually stays below my knees, on and off. When it travels up to one side and I feel unwell (as I describe it), then I know I am in a relapse.

It can travel up the other leg, it did for me in 2003, and it crossed over the whole groin area, being numb there too, yet functional. It only went up to the bra area on one side, the other side to the groin/pelvic area.

At that time I was treated with oral steroids. 100 mgs for three days, then 80mgs for three, 60 mgs..and downward to 10 mgs a day, and then 10 mg every other day for a week. Somehow this worked for me. It was a low, oral dosage, but for a longer period of time.

I hope your not in a relapse, "but when it doubt, check it out." :)

I'm supposed to go to the neuro on the 12th of may, but I dont know if I can wait that long. If the steroids would work on me, I'm betting the sooner I take them the better.

I'm calling the neuro in the morning, asking him about the steroids...

I'm going to go to my regular doctor and tell them to check me for infection or a low vitamin problem or something because of how tired I am.

This is really scaring me because it's sort of interfering with how I'm walking. (everything from my low back on down the right side is very stiff and doesnt feel like it wants to move very well)

I'm afraid to go to sleep because I'm scared I'll wake up in the morning unable to move.

I am so tired right now tho, that I'm going to bed like 3 or 4 hours earlier than I usually do (I'm insomniac) and I'm just going to lay here in the dark watching television...probably watch a Stargate Atlantis dvd. I'm not expecting to sleep, but I think if I lay there and just rest, maybe that will help.

I just cant stand that numb feeling around my hips and stomach. It's so freaking uncomfortable. Making me want to cry.

I dont really expect steroids to help me any. I was looking for my bottle of neurontin today (cant find it) and found my mom's stash of oral pred. (she had an allergy problem last year she was taking pred for) and I was so seriously tempted to borrow them. I think she had almost enough for a full prescription of 'roids that I'd need. (I have 6 extras that were left over from my oral pred Rx last fall...my stash and her stash might have equaled a full Rx)

She had like 5 bottles of oral pred and they all looked like they were close to being half full.

I'm so tempted to borrow hers, but I think I want my own Rx...

Right now I kind of feel like I did last year after I had IVSM and had the crash a day or two later (didnt get the taper for that) I feel like I did about 3 or 4 days after the crash...still wiped out but able to actually get up and walk across the room to the potty.

All I want to do is sleep. I just dont sleep in my bed, but stick me in my computer chair and I sleep...and that chair is no where near being comfortable to sleep in. (might explain the back pain)

First, I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad :hug:
Next, It sounds like things have gotten worse.
Lastly, I'd say if you can't see your neuro, see someone. :eek:

PS Hope you feel better soon.:hug:

I called my neuro this morning, and told him how uniquely crappy I was feeling. (worst I'd felt since I had mono in 1996) and how uncomfortable I am at this moment, and he said which do you want...oral or IV?

I told him oral. I've since changed my mind and want IV.

Called the neuro's emergency number tonight because I felt even worse and started to have a panic attack and that made me feel even worse, and the guy on call told me that yes, I can have the IV steroids...told me to stick with the oral over the weekend, and to call my neuro on monday and tell him that I want the IV. (and a taper! didnt have the taper the last time I did IV and the crash was pretty horrific)

That neuro also asked if I have anything for the anxiety. Told him I did, and he told me to "please take some". (I'd kind of forgotten that I had that) Then told me that if I ever start to get all anxious again like I was feeling, that I should take another. (I never take it full strength. I took half of the dosage he told me to take, maybe not even that much)

I cant believe how much calmer I feel now after 1/4 of an Ativan. (dosage was supposed to be half of a .5mg pill. I couldnt find my splitter, and I had a 1/4 of a pill already ready, so I just took that)

I just want to know how long before the steroids start to make the numbness feel better. (they never did work on me last fall when my left hand went screwy)

I just want someone to take these really tight, hard INVISIBLE boots that are squeezing my feet to death and making them numb off my feet, and the three layers of (also invisible) corset that are tied around my waist followed with the 5 tight leather belts should probably also come off too.

and my butt is numb! I HATE having a numb butt! That happens when I sit on a hard chair or bench too long sometimes, but that always goes away when I stand up. This isnt!

I think this is torture. I'll admit to a ton of unsolved murder cases for the last 100 years to get this to stop.

Bless you heart!
 

Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you and hope comfort will find you real soon!:hug:
http://dl9.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...gdu3qjmjan.gif

I'm sorry your feel so miserable! I really hope the steroids help quickly!

Feel better soon!

Kristie

Continue to keep us up to date. Wish there was something more I could do than send you cyber hugs. :hug:

Do hope your sx improve SOOON.

Erin, did you get your steroids? How are you feeling today? :hug:

Yep. Got my steroids. Had the second dose this morning with a yogurt chaser. (why do steroids have to taste so nasty?!? Couldnt they make them chocolate flavored?)

I feel like crap still, but after freaking out completely last night and talking to the on-call neuro at my neuro's office (and taking some Ativan) and then getting some actual sleep, I feel a little bit better. (I was second guessing myself on going with the $5 Rx of 'roids as opposed to the massively expensive IVSM)

Still numb as hell, and annoyed as I've ever been, but feeling a little bit emotionally better than I was yesterday. (physically, not so much)

I wanted to go to a craft fair today (was hoping to find some crochet hooks or some yarn or something) decided not to go because I havent washed my hair for two days and I just dont think I have the energy to walk around in the sun on a hot parking lot. Oh well, that craft show isnt really known for having yarn. Maybe this flare will be over by the time another craft fair pops up.

I was planning to go to a baseball game next month a town over from here. (boyfriend lives in that town) and now I'm not sure I'll want to do it if I'm still annoyingly and painfully numb. These steroids had better work. I really wanted to go to that baseball game. (stupid MS trolls dont want me to have any fun...stupid putzy MS trolls.) Good thing I hadnt bought the tickets or made a hotel reservation yet.

There's nothing else to do here in town this weekend/week. There's an extra 40 to 50 thousand people in town and every place is crowded because of the stupid rich people from the Berkshire Hathaway convention. They had my boyfriend help with a function last night, and none of those rich people could be bothered to actually pay him for the work he did last night. (he had a display from his job at the function) Guess that's how the rich people stay rich...by scamming the poor people into working for free. At least he sold his display to one of the people there, and he passed out a lot of business cards.

Found my mom's tens unit
 

My mom has a tens unit she's had for awhile.

This numbness is driving me nuts, and it kind of hurts. I figured it wouldnt hurt to try the tens unit to see if did anything to help.

I got it out, found some clean electrodes, and put them on. Finally figured out how to turn the thing on, and....I think it's helping. Kind of stings a little bit, but the fact that I can feel something other than deep numbness on those spots, wow! It actually kind of feels good. It doesnt feel really powerful (I havent figured out how to put new batteries into the unit yet..these batteries are probably a few years old) but it seems to be helping.

Right now I have the black electrodes on my stomach, and the red ones on my right thigh. Those are two of the places where the numbness is really annoying. It seems to be working somewhat. Dont know if it's hurting me or not to use this, but I figure if it feels ok to me, it's not going to do me any harm.

I might try it on the side of my hip and back later on if I can figure out how to open the battery compartment to put fresh batteries in.