Worried I’ve got multiple sclerosis

[LegPain]

I’ve had a weird pain in my leg since 2018. Started off as feeling like I had a knot, circle of pulled muscle. This has never gone away. I’ve seen a physio for it some time ago and got given calf stretching exercises to do and told to foam roll, I’ve had acupuncture and cupping. It hasn’t got better and I’d say has got significantly worse over the last 6-8 months.

my calf muscle is noticeably tighter than my other one and at night it seems to spasm, like really throb. I can’t cope with the pain at night, keeps me awake some nights. The last 3-4 months I have pins and needles nearly permanently in the foot on that side and sometimes up my calf. I’m starting to feel quite unsteady on my feet.

something Made me think of MS the other day and I googled it and when looking at symptoms it says people with Ms can have bladder problems and I’ve had bladder problems for years and am under a consultant for this. I also have slightly blurred vision, the optician says with my glasses my vision is 20/20 but I can’t read subtitles on the tv 10ft away from me.

I’ve made a gp appt but can’t get seen for two weeks. If they agree it could be MS will I have to wait months and months for a neurology referral or will the GP send me for an MRI while I’m waiting?

We're moving this thread to our Autoimmune Disease topic at the OP's request. Hopefully some MNers will be along soon with some advice and support.

I had a referral to “rule out” MS. Main symptom was persistent pins and needles. I was seen fairly quickly by the neurologist, about 2 months but this was 2019. The consultant referred me for an MRI scan and also for weird nerve conduction tests, to check whether electrical signals were travelling through my muscles.

In the end nothing was found and the consultant just said pins and needles was fairly common in middle age.

Sorry OP, I know it’s a real worry. I hope you get a speedy referral.

i don’t know about the wait etc, but do want to reassure you that these things could be various other stuff. How old are you? I always had good eyesight until perimenopause hit at about 43 and it went downhill. I had a pain in one arm similar to what you describe in your leg, worse at night - it was a calcification where there’s a calcium deposit in your muscle, it’s better now. Bladder problems and pins and needles are common too especially as you get older. Of course you’re right to get checked but hope you can also try not to worry too much.

Thanks both. I’m mid 40s so yes it could be getting older/menopause hopefully. Maybe I just need some multivitamins! 😀

My GP sent me for blood tests before doing the neurology referral. They came back showing no problems (under active thyroid being an obvious one to rule out) so GP made the referral.

I went private to get a diagnosis OP then transferred to NHS for meds. Is that at all on the cards? Be quite firm with your GP that you feel you are having neurological symptoms. I got fobbed off with physio for years. Please don't be worried about the possibility of getting a diagnosis - it's the first step to getting you on drugs and improving your life. Wishing you luck.

My GP referred me for an MRI and told me the results looked like MS and then referred me to a neurologist where I had to have multiple scans and tests to officially get a diagnosis.

For what it's worth your symptoms don't match with a typical relapsing remitting MS and are far more likely to be something else.

If it is MS, get on a good treatment straight away, I don't really think about having MS on a day to day basis as my treatment is so good.

Took me a few months I think to get an MRI

FWIW I don't have MS but do have vision problems, bladder problems and pain- I have fibromyalgia

Neither are pleasant and can be very disabling but I was relieved

Also worth noting some menopause symptoms can mirror ms.

I've recently been through this with tingling, twitches, eye issues etc and had 2 mris and just had result to say no MS. I'm so relieved but now have no idea what's going on.
I was utterly convinced it was MS as all the symptoms fit so well.
Just shows dr google isn't right. Probably ever.

I've just posted on the other MS thread (about another poster's elderly mum). My daughter is 17 and presented with tingling and numbness in her right arm and leg which came on suddenly - she couldn't really hold a pen. 111 said straight to A&E who referred her for an MRI which she had the next day. Lesions on her brain and spine, she was admitted and they did umpteen tests including a lumbar puncture. She had other symptoms too over the years which she had seen the GP, paediatric consultant, had physio, chiropractor and acupuncture. I paid for a private MRI and a year later she had one on the NHS. No lesions then. But she had vertigo, unexplained severe stabbing pains, frequently fainted, migraines, was clumsy and always tired. It was only in the hospital we recently went to that said it was likely MS. We meet next week with the neurologist. Terrible timing as she is about to sit her A levels!
People experience different symptoms- my daughter has no bladder issues for example. But if you know something is off keep pushing.

Hi OP, hope you get a resolution soon. As
others have said be firm and insistent,
I was fobbed off for years and had to pay privately for my own MRI and diagnosis (for a different disease).

If calcium deposits they should be able to see these on an ultrasound, not sure if a physio or GP have access to do a check and rule out? Magnesium supplements (especially soluble) can help to remove these and help with muscle tingling if not neurological.

I have chronic sciatica and experience very similar symptoms plus numbness. It’s been going on for so long I was starting to think it may be MS and have had various scans, nerve function tests etc. Waiting for results currently but the neurologist thinks it probably is a nerve compression in lower back. Is it possible you have sciatica or some disc issues?

Hi did you find out about the results? I’m in similar situation.

Yes. Not MS. But was finally diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome by a knowledgeable osteopath. So years of issues and unnecessary surgeries.

Hello everyone,
I know this thread is a year old, but I'm hoping there's still people around.
I've had tingling and spasms on face for about a month, it's driving me crazy and this Easter weekend Ive had a numbing pain on my legs, yesterday I was cleaning the dishwasher and my legs shook and I had to sit down or I would've collapsed. Five years ago I had my carpal tunnel done, because of tingling and shooting pain on my right arm. I'm worried now that it wasn't carpal tunnel but something more serious.
I called the GP but I have to wait three weeks for blood works and then make another appointment with the GP for the results.

Hi. It's a scary thing to be going through, I've still no 100% answer but anxiety and perimenopause are the top answers at the moment. X