I'm wondering if those of you with a DX for MS ever get warning signs that a flair is coming on? About 2 weeks ago my right thumb went numb for an evening. Then last night my right thumb went numb again. Then my left index finger went numb. Now I'm okay again.

Just looking for feedback.
Thanks
J

hey GJ ... I'm still new at this "MS-thing" ... LOL

I had to learn to *listen* to my body ... and I'll get sx that will hit me once a month, stay for a few days ... then mysteriously disappear ... not even sure what is 'credited' as a flair ... a whole bunch of sx hit all at once?? or on top of one another?? ..

before being dx'd - I didn't listen enough ... and now, when weird things start happening - I know now to 'slow down', relax ... enjoy the smell of cut grass or listen to a bird or crickets singing ...

the cool thing is ... even thru the pain, life is pretty awesome!

not sure if I helped any .... I get those sharp needley-pain/twitches/spasm-like feelings in my fingers, thumbs, toes too ... not sure how to handle it, but to remain calm ...

Not really, for me.

I get intermittent symptoms, but they are usually because of previous nerve damage that is being stirred up because of a trigger (heat, stress, overdoing things).

Alternatively, recently new symptoms may indicate infection for me . . . which may or may not evolve into a full blown attack depending on whether I treat the infection in time.

When I am headed into a relapse, I get much more severe symptoms then those little, nagging ones. Normally the symptoms compound too . . . not JUST burning, or JUST tingling, but many different things combined. Either that, or I get just one very, very bad symptom which is terribly debilitating, ie. sleep 20 out of 24 hrs for days/weeks, spinal headaches (can sit up for 3 - 4 weeks). Even then, I usually get a lot more symptoms crop up . . . and within a very short period.

Cherie

I was curious because in the past when I had severe vertigo I could feel it coming on for weeks. Then BAM. I was down. Last year was the first time my body went numb and it started with numb fingers. I'll just have to wait and see if it's anything or a sign of numbness to come.

Appreciate the replies
J

yes Jeannie lately I have been getting real nasty headaches, prior to relapse,(my last 3 lapses) even though i get mixed reviews on headaches and MS, doc said no but then in same breath said a lesion in the spine could cause headaches, nothing like a definitive answer

For me, fatigue increases significantly, I start having problems peeing (I can't), more numbness in my legs and arms than usual and it doesn't subside and I am more heat intolerant than usual.

It's more that the symptoms that I experience on a daily basis are more pronounced and don't go away or subside with rest and more hydration. But it's the increase in the fatigue no matter what I do.

It isn't that I have a numb thumb one day and a numb finger one day and then they are gone the next, for me that's just status quo. It's when they are numb for days and it continues up the palm, hand or arm and stays that way for 2-3 days and interferes with my daily routine. Or my calves are more numb than normal...then I get concerned.

I hope that helps you Jeannie.

I don't have a final DX but the last 2 flares I have had I had trouble peeing as FlyFGirl ( I couldn't go ) it started about three days each time before I got bad and had to start the steriods.

Well, the last time I did go numb just like you said and it lasted for almost 3 months. What I meant is that I've now had two episodes of numbness that came and went recently and was wondering if it could be a percursor to a new event like I had last year.

I guess time will tell.
Thanks

GJ, I can always tell if a flare is coming by my bladder. I get the oppostie of FG and YB, I feel like a bladder infection is coming and I am peeing all the time and leaking...gross I know. But that is my sign that a biggie is coming.

Hope you don't have that and the numbness is just numbness.

GJ, this is very similar to my experience. Numbness on the right side is my only constant symptom, and I usually have very little warning that a new symptom is coming with a flare.

The only thing I get is the weird feeling that something is wrong the day the new symptom appears. That nagging feeling one gets in the back of the head that something is going to happen.

I only know if I'm in a flare (at least one you'll see a new leison on an MRI) is if the new symptom is constant and doesn't die down at all. When the flare is over, the symptom either remits completely or becomes part of my package of knowing when I pushed too hard.