MS? Are my symptoms likely to be this? Very scared.1

[HulaChick]

I appreciate that there are already quite a lot of threads on here about MS but I can't seem to find any with the exact same symptoms that I'm experiencing. I've looked on Google and that seems to suggest it could be but I really want to know first hand from someone with MS if it could actually be?
I'm 51 (just), perimenopausal,very fit (walk between 5 & 8 miles a day plus sometimes other exercise) and eat pretty well. Since the first Lockdown, I've been bloody stupid and smoked quite a bit - not every day but on & off for most months since then. Before that, I'd been a social smoker in my teens and some of my 20's. Went about 15 years zero smoking, then maybe once or twice a year after that but mainly nothing until first Lockdown.
Anyway, have started noticing (in last 6 months or so) that I occasionally get sudden weakness and very weird sensation in both my arms at exactly the same time, and my arms tremble too, making it, for example difficult to grip my phone & text. I also occasionally get a very heavy, dead, foot/leg which I can't put any weight on as I can't feel it but that doesn't happen very often. My arms are more frequent but can still have days, possibly weeks in between but I noticed today it happened twice. The sensations only last for about a minute or so but it's horrible. I am so frightened and terrified it could be MS and I can't begin to imagine how I'd cope and feel if I lost my mobility as fitness is such a huge part of my life.
Please could you let me know what you think and also let me know if you've had similar arm issues? I don't know whether to describe it as pins & needles as I hardly ever used to have that but this isn't so much a pricking sensation but more a weird, stretching, heavy, weak feeling.
Thank you so much
(Have also posted in Autoimmune section but there doesn't seem to be much activity there- just desperate for some thoughts from people as so worried - thank you)

Nobody will be able to tell you. It could be so many things.

I doubt taking up smoking again would have a systemic effect that quickly, either, although obviously it’s not great for your health generally.

Have you seen your GP and been referred? Or tried a physiotherapist for assessment?

I've had lots of hot stabby pains, pins and needles, numbness etc. over a period of weeks, then I developed a bullseye rash so currently being treated for Lymes. Like you I had been googling MS. I only mention Lymes as you say you're outdoorsy. Whatever it is, diagnosis could be a lengthy process so worth getting some things ruled out. All the best.

The test for MS is lesions on the brain. MS has different symptoms for each sufferer, you need to see your GP.

Could also be menopause. Until you go to a doctor, neither you or anyone on the internet could reliably diagnose you, and much as I understand your concern, you really should expect strangers on the internet to give you an opinion on some vague symptoms that could face multiple causes. Is there a reason you won't consult a gp?

Shouldn't, not should.

Could also be a deficiency, particularly Vit D or B12 and folate.

I had the arm thing. I remember being unable to brush my teeth one night all of a sudden. My gp thought I had MS but it turned out to be “just” thoracic outlet syndrome which can have symptoms on both sides of the body at once.

The heavy weak arms were the blood not getting through through the outlet because the arteries were pinched. So it could be something like that. In which case it can even be controlled by simple things like massage. So go to the doctor x
Ps if it is that the smoking will make it worse I think.

Sorry we’re not much help but you need to see your GP. It could be many things, many of which are far less worse than MS. Hope you get sorted

It won’t be from taking up smoking again.

It sounds as though you might be a little anxious about health matters?

I had symptoms similar to this and others and wasn't MS. I have low folate and sometimes low iron. Its probably worth having blood tests and after that taking a multi-vitamin though check you are low in iron before taking one with iron as too much iron can be bad.

I am a similar age as well.

I had heavy weak arms last year, was freaking out about it, also noticed occasional numbish tingly feel in one foot.

The arm thing was eventually discovered to be a minor nerve impingement in my neck.

The foot thing is now worse and my GP thinks it's sciatica.

I also worried about MS, had myself convinced I had it, had an expensive private MRI to rule it out then felt much better. The anxiety makes any symptoms worse.

MS is different for everyone and a diagnosis can take some time. Best to see your Doctor.

I had the same symptoms as well as numb legs & feet, had brain & spine mri, nerve conduction studies & blood tests. I have lesions on my brain but it isn't ms, it's B12 deficiency.

I'm thinking it might be anxiety, op. Sudden weakness in your arms is very common, as is increased or new anxiety in peri-menopause.