Do symmetrical symptoms rule out MS?
 

Sorry for the basic question, but I am undiagnosed and seeking answers. I had ruled out looking into MS due to the fact that my symptoms are nearly always in both arms or both legs at the same time. My grandmother did have MS, but I'm leaning more towards thinking I may have MG. My symptoms are feelings of fatigue and weakness in either both arms or both legs that comes and goes. A few weeks ago I ws able to jog 3 miles with no problem, and yesterday I couldn't make it 1/4 mile without walking. It was a very hard feeling to explain...a weakness and almost like I was walking with someone else's legs. They didn't give out, but were definitely not feeling right. I had these arm symptoms and eye symptoms (weird lights for about 20 minutes in one eye) several years ago. They ruled out optic neuritis and did an MRI and saw no lesions. After that, I had 2 more children and was symptom free while pregnant and nursing. Now my little guy is almost 2 and the symptoms are back...on and off. Just seeking answers while I wait doctor's appointments and lab results. Thanks for any insight you can provide.

I had symmetrical symptoms with my MS. Both legs were numb for several weeks before it resolved and has never happened that way again. This was before I was dx with MS.

With MS I believe you can have symptoms anywhere anytime. MS is a very individual disease and nobody has the same symptoms. That makes it had to diagnose.....especially in the early stages because it seems as soon as you make an appointment to get the offending symptom checked out it decides to go away. :rolleyes: That's what happened with me.

I would definitely make an appointment with a neurologist....preferably one that specializes in MS.....and discuss the symptoms with them. The sooner you know what it is the sooner you can get either a medication to slow progression or something to at least help the symptoms.

Hello Pharmgirlkelly and welcome to NeuroTalk.

MS is a disease of the Central Nervous System(CNS) which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Lesions (scaring) can show up anywhere within the CNS.

MRIs of the brain and spinal cord are best when a person is suspected of having MS. A spinal cord lesion can cause symptoms from that point down.

Yes you can have symptoms on both sides at the same time.

Visual disturbances that last only 20 to 30 minutes are usually caused by migraines. Visual disturbances can be part of an Ocular migraine.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/condit...r-migraine.htm

hi kelly and welcome to NT,

there is something called the McDonald criteria that drs often go by to help dx (diagnose) MS.

keep a sx (symptom) journal with dates and the sx's you have. it might help the dr when you go for your exam.

it is common for women that have MS for their disease sx's to abate during & after pregnancy.

no Q is too simple. we're here to help. at one time we all were where you are now. keep us posted. ps...i learned yrs ago to get copies of dr's notes, test results and copies of any mri (CD) you have. start to keep a medical file on yourself. it will come in handy in the future.

Symmetrical symptoms is actually the most common presentation of MS, as opposed to ALS or a stroke which typically only attacks one side of the body. That is not to say the having symmetrical symptoms means you have MS, but rather it's simply a common trait of the disease. There's still any number of things that could be going on.

Also not having lesions in the brain, doesn't rule it out, as there maybe lesions in the spinal cord area, even then without the presence of lesions MS still isn't completely ruled out (though far more difficult to get a Dx for) So you might want to make sure you get a lumbar puncture done as well and not rely solely on the MRIs.

I'm considered disabled by my MS, but I only have one lone little unchanging lesion in my brain and a couple of indistinct spots, that could be from head injuries, old lesions, developing lesions or just who the heck knows. But the deciding factor for my Dx was the lumbar puncture even with just the lowly little lesion in the corpus callum. Well and all the symptoms as well :p

There's a few basic symptoms that are common to a lot of MS patients though not all, the biggest one being heat sensitivity. Where in your symptoms present themselves more the warmer you get, which can be from raising your body temperature through exercising.

And as NurseNancy pointed out, with pregnancy many diseases can become almost or feel completely symptom free. I guess it's part of our nurturing natures. And the repression of symptoms can last for quite a while into the child's growth period. My own DSD has Graves disease but didn't have any recurrent symptoms of it until around August when her youngest was turning 2 years old, then everything went downhill for her. :(

Anyways we're all here for you, be sure to let us know how you're doing and feel free to ask us any other questions. Even if you find you don't have MS, there's a lot of us that have clever ways of dealing with things when our bodies just don't seem to want to do what we tell it to. :hug:

Thank you Starznight and others for the info. I was always under the impression (apparently incorrectly) that MS symptoms were rarely on both sides at the same time. Like maybe a weak leg one day and the other leg would act up the next time? My symptoms are almost always identical and symmetrical. I get feelings of weakness in both arms or both legs that come and go. I love to jog and couldn't go more than 1/4 mile last week. It was like I couldn't propel myself forward any faster no matter what I did, so I walked. They felt strange - like they were someone else's legs! Then the next day I was able to jog 3 miles without a problem. I am truly at a loss.
Thanks for the info. I am currently being worked up for MG, but the symptoms don't quite fit.

((((((Pharmgirlkelly)))))):)

At the time of my diagnosis: I was numb from the waist down, bilateral leg weakness, bilateral pins/needles (legs), bilateral vibration/buzzing (legs), tremors (both hands). There were other symptoms. Mine did not come and go. They stayed for the entire diagnostic process then, steroids and I still had a difficult and long haul. It took a year of frustration, tears, pain and fatigue to regain my mobility. Then I had my second relapse and it began all over again.

I received my handicap placard shortly after diagnosis. My MRIs were clear, my Lumbar Puncture was positive (o-bands).

Very interesting...thank you, everyone, for taking the time to post.