To ask if my concern is unreasonable

[teoma]

I’ve been having issues with my back in the past few weeks and have seen an osteopath without much relief. Yesterday after I went to bed, I started feeling pins, needles and a certain numbness in my arm. The symptoms have persisted today and I saw a private GP who thinks I might have a herniated disk but advised to get an urgent MRI.

The thing is, I fear I have MS. I have two young children and I’m scared I won’t be able to care for them and see them grow up. I’ve cried a lot today and feel like crap. My husband is calling me dramatic. AIBU?

What brings you to the MS conclusion? If you are doom scrolling on google then you are being a bit dramatic and unreasonable. If a professional is investigating it then you are not unreasonable.

The GP said it’s not likely to be a neurological problem but I have a severe health anxiety. It also came on very sudden and is scary.

It's much more likely that you have a herniated disc and an overactive imagination.

Being concerned you have MS is not unreasonable, no. It would be a real bummer (MIL has MS). Fingers crossed it’s something simpler!

One step at a time. Wait until there's a conclusion over the herniated disc before worrying what else it might be. Your doctor has suggested the disc as the most likely problem. No need to cross bridges you might not even come to.

I think we all fear these more distressing illnesses to some extent.

But you also accept you have health anxiety.

See your GP, get the suggested scans, explain your fears to the professionals.

This is from the doctor’s notes and according to my husband that grants zero concern and I just need to go and check my back.

^ This. You can’t help how you feel, but see a professional. Hope all goes well OP.

OK so the Dr is saying you have no MS red flags. What do you need to be able to listen to them?

It's more likely the osteopath has done something negative than you have MS.

MS isn't the end of your life, there are lots of effective treatments available and much more research coming through (I've had MS for 4 year

edited to add I realise you don't have a diagnosis, I'm just offering you my own experience, as someone who has been worried I had MS and then actually did have it! Hopefully yours is just a disk issue

Recently had terrible back trouble causing nerve problems. I also feared MS but in the end it is bulging discs - still crap but obviously less problematic with physio than MS. Your Dr's noted clearly indicates they also think it's a disc issue - the part about incontinence is a potential issue if nerve compression can causes an issue, which is totally separate again and fixable with surgery (spina causa equina) - V rare too so don't start to panic about that! Try and stay calm and rational - don't worry about the worst unless it actually happens! Think about how you would advise someone else if they were in this situation. Sending hugs tho as disc related nerve issues are also utterly shite

Spina cauda equina - sorry typo in that post

If you haven't had any other symptoms, it's unlikely to be MS

I understand this kind of anxiety. I have loads of physical symptoms that might actually be MS (it's one of a few possibilities). But I am actually very unwell. Are you mostly okay aside from your back and anxiety?

Just get the MRI done and then you can relax a bit more. Back issues are so very common.