MS symptoms

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Hi everyone just looking for some reassurance if nothing else.
My husband for the last week has been waking up with numb arms and legs, he went to the doctor today and they are referring him to neurology to rule out MS.
I'm now so worried and freaking out Incase this is what it is as he said it could be an early symptom. We have 2 young children and I just feel until he has his referral I'm going to be worrying so much.
Has anyone who has MS or know of anyone who had it be able to say their earliest symptom? He doesn't have any of the other symptoms online which is hopeful.
Has anyone else had numb arms and legs and gone on to have a diagnosis?
I know I shouldn't worry until there's a diagnosis but I can't help feel sad thinking the life we've planned would be different and I feel upset for him that he may not be able to play with our kids.
Sorry if anything I have said is inaccurate but I don't have much knowledge other than the google read I have done.
Thanks to anyone that can help

My dad had MS, he had the progressive one that meant their was little respite. There is also a ‘benign’ MS where you have a flare and then a remission. His early symptoms years before they even knew he had it were a snuck visual disturbance that the optician put down to damage from smoking, frequent falls (we thought he was clumsy and He was a functioning alcoholic so we put falls down to being drunk). His co-ordination was terrible and his legs became extremely stiff. It was a medical at work that showed up signs. It’s just a test to rule it out, I wouldn’t panic yet.I’ve been tested as I had numbness etc and a familial link. The neurologist told me I wasn’t showing any other signs so he was satisfied i was ok. He said ‘I can’t give anyone any guarantees for the future, no one can. I put areac(west of Scotland has one of the highest rates) 1 in 1000 people develop MS, therefore 999 out of a thousand don’t, in your group it’s 20 in a thousand so 980 who don’t’. It’s very unlikely to be MS.

Hi

I have MS, my first symptoms were tingling in my hands but it was only when I had double vision that I went to the hospital. I was admitted as they thought I had had a stroke.

The road to diagnosis is a long one and includes several tests. You need two separate types of symptoms at least a month apart before they begin to take you seriously.

MS does affect your life but everyone gets different symptoms and levels - I have relapse, remitting type and still work in a stressful busy professional role with at least an hours commute each way. I look after my two children, decorate and garden and do almost all the things I did before.

There is some great medications out there now.

So don’t worry, the chances are it will not be as disabling as you think.

Has the doctor arranged any other tests or mentioned any other possibilities? Earlier this year, I had numbness in my hands and feet when waking up - I was worried it was either MS or diabetes. Turned out to just be a vitamin B12 deficiency - I've been taking a high dose supplement for the past few months and the numbness has almost gone now.

A close relative of mine had MS. Their first symptoms were general fatigue and muscle weakness mostly on one side. Some headaches. This went on for quite some time until falls started then they were investigated for over a year until finally got a diagnosis.

MS is a hugely wide spectrum with so many differing symptoms that could be something else entirely, that's one of the issues. Some people struggle with early decline, others like my relative can live a relatively full and productive life for many years until symptoms increase.

Try not to worry until more is known - there's more chance it's not, than it is. And even if it is, it depends so much on the type and their individual situation.

I was diagnosed 21 years ago. I had optic neuritis followed by total body numbness and loss of balance. I went on to recover completely, then had a few relapses over the next couple of years.
I've never been prescribed any medication and my disease is described as behaving very benignly now. There are as many different types of MS as there are people who have it. Very best wishes op.

I forgot to say, there are a whole host of things that ought to be ruled out before even considering MS, in my experience. A pp mentioned vitamin deficiencies and there are types of migraine that can cause symptoms like that I think.
MS was the last thing they suggested and explored in my case.

Good that your DH has been referred to Neurologist. Assuming you are in England there is quite a wait for Neurology appts, in my area South Coast.

I have RRMS, my dx was private, this was my journey - I noticed an area of numbness, across my ribs which grew greater each day, numb hands, pins & needles, walking sensation altered, felt this walking on marshmallow.

Saw GP, performed basic neurological exam, told me to see Neurologist urgently, saw Neurologist, arranged MRI scans, blood tests, chest X Ray etc. Had MRI, three areas Head, Cervical & whole spine, lesions were found on my brain and two areas of inflammation in my spinal cord. I was dx with Transverse Myelitis, but was told that it was more than likely MS, this was confirmed, two years later when I had further relapse. Symptoms were visual this time.

My advice would be to go private if you can afford it, it will be much, much quicker. In my experience when a Neurologist suspects a possibility of MS, they rule out lots of other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.

I know it’s an extremely worrying time, but try to think positive, chances are it won’t be MS, but even if it is there are effective treatments for most types of MS. Wishing you all the very best for the future.

In my Dad, Mum and Grandmother the first symptom in every case was falls. It was only with hindsight that it was realised this was probably their earliest symptom. At the time it was put down to tripping over, clumsyness etc.

Thank you so much to everyone that has taken the time to share your experiences and journey. I feel a lot more hopeful and reassured