Are my symptoms similar to MS?

[kyhorses19]

I am a 27 yr old female.  My sister was diagnosed with Ms this year.  She told me I should be tested because anyone with a sibling with it should be.  I was diagnosed with carpel tunnel in both hands last year.  My hands go numb frequently.  Sometimes they do it all the time and sometimes not for several days.  I only had a nerve study done with that not an EMG.  I do not have pain just numbness.  I was just diagnosed with gastroparesis a month ago and severe acid reflux this week.  I have arthritis in my feet and asked my podiatrist if foot numbness can be caused by that.  I have had some numbness on and off for a few months.  He ordered an EMG.  There was neuropathic changes in all the nerves tested.  I have tibial nerve entrapment in an ankle and peripheral sensory motor neuropathy.  I have a lot of headaches.  I have had an MRI on my cervical spine because of a bulging disk.  Nothing else but a bone spur showed up. I have hashimoto's but my thyroid levels are normal.   I am frequently tired and wear out easily.  I am tired of going to doctors but want answers.  I read that people with neuropathy should be tested for MS.  I see my podiatrist in a week.  Should I talk to him about it or go ahead and talk to my primary.  How do I just come out and tell them I want tested?  Do you think I have it or is it probably something else?  Thanks

[sshconcern]

I know it's difficult but please ask them to do a MRI of your brain. Sometimes Dr's don't want to be the bad guy.

[immisceo]

Having a primary relative (full sibling or parent or child) with MS only increases the risk of developing MS by about 5% as compared to the rest of the population.

A positive EMG actually points away from MS as a cause of neuropathy as it only accounts for disordered signals in the peripheral nervous system. MS is a disease of the central nervous system. Nothing you've mentioned sounds particularly indicative of a potential neurological condition.

Your sister is currently going through what is a very difficult time for most of us - that first year post diagnosis. It's a time that can be fraught with hyper-vigilance, concern for family, and adjusting psychologically and physically to having a chronic condition.

However, as I'm sure you know, there is no one single test that diagnoses MS with 100% specificity. It's the overall picture based on neurological exams, imaging, patient history, and ruling out other more likely causes. I think it might be a very stressful and unsatisfying endeavour to be thinking about MS testing for yourself at present. It just doesn't fit what you've described.

You have been dealing with a few things that have been diagnosed that could already account for your symptoms. I would speak to your GP about getting adequate symptomatic relief and treatment for your current diagnoses.