Numb leg for two weeks. Petrified - PLEASE help!!

[stoppingbywoods]

This may seem like an over-reaction but we have lost two women (suddenly and prematurely) in my immediate family in the last eight months. Irrational as it is, I'm scared of being next and this numb leg is pushing all my buttons. (The family members died of unrelated health conditions and were not blood relatives BTW).

My leg is numb from the knee down, all over with the exception of part of the knee cap and a line down the middle at the back. Physical exam was normal and blood tests have all been normal so far. (Don't know what they are but there were plenty). I've been suffering from headaches, IBS symptoms, fatigue. A small rash on the buttock on the other side of my body from the rash. No back pain and haven't been doing anything differently.

GP has drawn a blank so is referring to a neurologist.

Please tell me there are other things it could be besides MS. I'm so scared.

How did you get on today? Were they able to help at all?

Thanks for remembering nancy
The physio thought pelvic dysfunction could possibly have something to do with it. I did have dreadful spd after DD's birth so she suggested revisiting the specialist physio I see for that. Have been doing much, much better pelvis-wise lately so I can't imagine it will throw up much. Neurologist booked for Monday week.

Well, although you didn't get an answer it does show that there are loads of things it could be that are not MS. Look after yourself this week, I know a week on Monday must seem like an unbearable amount of time to wait xx

I've had numbness in my lower leg and strange sensations in my feet for the last five months: herniated disc pressing on the sciatic nerve.
There is a muscle that runs through the hip that can cause similar as it can press on the nerve. Piriformas syndrome?

I had these sorts of symptoms related to fibromyalgia Me type thing. Was horrible but I am better now

I saw the doctor today (turned out he sees private patients on Sundays not Mondays). He said that he thought it probably wasn't MS but something that would just die down. The worst scenario is nerve inflammation. He said even if he did an MRI and it showed nothing, it wouldn't be conclusive because it would still be possible that there was something very tiny there. But it would make him think it was even less likely to be MS. Or 'it could show a patch of inflammation that might recur in other areas in the future.'

Should I have the scan? Even though he thinks it probably isn't MS, my stupid brain only seems to have heard that he thinks it could be. I'd been hoping he would say there was virtually no chance.

When I explained how anxious I was, he said the MRI might be a good idea for the sake of reassurance. But this is £1000 - a month's hard savings for us.

I'm terrified at the thought of hearing there's inflammation on the scan - not sure I'd want to know and don't feel up to hearing it. But it would be a shame to worry needlessly.

I really think you should try not to get worked up about it. If it was MS you'd probably have more symptoms, and even if it were, you'll cope with it.

I've been ill for 25 years, not MS but the symptoms are not dissimilar. Illness is nothing to be frightened of.

Thanks for posting Yseulte. I have been ill in the past and simply didn't cope with it at all. I genuinely don't know how people with severe chronic illness carve out a life - that is probably my failing. Although I'm trying not to get worked up about it, as you can no doubt tell, I am already worked up...

Hello Nancy, I've tried several times to PM you but it won't let me, for some reason. I've posted above about the neurologist's advice. Thank you so much for thinking of me. Really can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Any updates?