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Has anyone had symptoms related to numbness and weakness in the legs?

I have been diagnosed with MS for about 4 months now after the right side of my body went numb and I had severe weakness in my legs making it difficult to walk. After being pumped full of steroids and having been on medication I still have not fully regained feeling in my legs. I was wondering if anyone had had similar symptoms and if so how long it took to regain full feeling if at all. Also, any advice at all concerning differnet symptoms or other things to expect would be helpful since I have a relatively new understanding of what it is MS can actually do to the body. Also, any advice from MS veterans such as suggestions on helpful lifestyle changes or even just things I can do to lower my risk of an exacerbation would be much appreciated as I am only 21 years old and unsure of what to expect on a long term scale with this disease. I believe my neurologist has been very helpful in explaining certain things, but it is also to my understanding that MS is an unpredictable disease and it doesn't affect two individuals the same. With such a vague description to go off of, I wholeheartedly believe that a good way to further grasp an understanding of what my future could look like is to learn from others personal experiences. Lastly, I have been on a medication called Copaxone for about 2 to 3 months now and personal experience regarding this medication specifically would be helpful.
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710547 tn?1295446030
Hi - I developed foot drop on my rt side a couple years after dx. But over time, I began having numbness in my lower rt leg. It would get better, then come back.

I now have secondary progressive ms, and the numbness and weakness continue to progress, and never get better. But that is due to it becoming SPMS. I hope you do get the feeling back, but unfortunately it is common for some symptoms to become permanent.

I couldn't agree more, with the recommendation to exercise. No matter what is going on, exercise helps keep us as strong and functional as possible! Blessings to you!
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5265383 tn?1669040108
I'm taking Copaxone and I was diagnosed just over a year ago.  It supposedly takes 6 months to be fully active; my Shared Solutions nurse said some people respond faster and I was one.  I started injecting during a relapse; should have had another relapse around 3 months later, but in the last year + have only had one very mild one.

Part and parcel of wellness is regular exercise, and healthy diet.  There are a bunch of diets -- no one diet is the answer (although many will tell you only one is correct :) ) -- I've found what seems to work with me, but it's likely going to take some trial and error on your part.  Find an exercise you love and can manage and commit to it.  Find orthotists and physiotherapists who can help you get to the point you are able to do what you love.  If you happen to smoke, quitting is a great idea because there is demonstrable research showing smokers have worse progression and symptoms.

I've taken as long as 6 months to get feeling back (I was positive that time it would be permanent -- you learn to stop worrying); often shorter, and sometimes weakness  hangs around because of disuse after the actual relapse is over.  I do a lot of physiotherapy to get back as much function as I can.  I also have right side weakness related to an upper motor neuron lesion, as well as trouble with both legs after a doozy waist down relapse last  March.  Both now only cause me trouble if I get too hot or fatigued.

Manage issues; celebrate what you do, engage in life, set goals and do whatever you can to reach them.

(((Hugs))).  If you put healthy living in place, stick with your meds and move on, I'm not sure knowing what future relapses "might" do would be helpful information.  Sometimes too much information is a bad thing.
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Thank you so much for responding. I think the information you have provided me with was very helpful. Coincidentally, I used to smoke cigarettes for about 3 years and have quit doing so for the better part of 6 months. I quit for reasons unrelated to MS, but my neurologist told me about how bad it was for people with MS in particular and it has helped me resist any temptation. Also, I have already been maintaing a consistent workout schedule that involves alot of cardio in an effort to hopefully reestablish connection between my nerves as I was instructed to do by my physical therapist. I also have a job that requires me to do alot of walking so hopefully that will help too. I have apparently had multiple exacerbations due to the number of lesions on my brain, but only 2 major ones occuring within the last 4 months. I am glad that just because I haven't regained total feeling doesn't mean that I won't. I didn't exactly know what to expect as far as full recovery time. Again, thank you so much for your feedback as it has really helped me stay confident that my feeling will return.
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