Possible MS???

[Elmo2201]

I have been expirencing some weird symptoms lately and was wondering if it might be MS.  This past weekend my left leg gave out on me.  Since then,  I have been having trouble walking on it.  It seems to be really weak and not wanting to work right.  My left hand, the last 3 fingers, have been numb.  My eye balls have been hurting, moving them makes it worse.  Also, my memory is shot.  I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but the leg thing has never happened before.  I went to my doctor and told him about all of this and he said that it could be MS, but he wanted to see what my rheumy had to say.  I don't see him until Monday.  I have been running into walls, totally off balance, and can't think straight sometimes.  I am kind of worried, because a lot of this has never happened to me before.  When he brought up MS, I got scared.  I figured I would come to this post and see what you all thought.  Any response or help is appreciated.  Thank you.

[Heather3418]

I looked it up on line and it talks more about the pinky finger and the "ring fingers."  Whatever that means.  It stated that this "entrampment" of the nerve usually occurs at the elbow or wrist.

Sorry Elmo for taking over this post, describing ulnar neuropathy.  I was rude to you and I am sorry.  This post is about you, not me.

Heather

[Heather3418]

Since I had to have surgery on my elbow to free a trapped ulanr nerve, I experienced the pinky finger, the ring finger and one half of the middle finger being numb.  My ortho told me that this is classic for ulnar neuropathy.  It is true that most of the numbness is felt in the last two fingers.  My Ortho told me that when I came in complaining of a part of my middle finger being numb, he didn't do any further testing, since I was so specific in my explanation.  When he operated, he told me that he was glad that he didn't make me go through the EMG and Nerve conduction study's.  The ulnar nerve couldn't move in it's groove, being trapped in so much scar tissue.  I had the boney prominance of my inner elbow removed to solve this issue.

Heather

[essdipity]

I can see why you feel worried and somewhat overwhelmed. It's too bad your doctor mentioned MS at this point if he can't do anything about it personally, such as order tests. But please don't be too upset. He seemed to be thinking out loud, and that's not always a bad thing. If you do have MS, that might account for your symptoms more than fibro does. Nevertheless, you will see your rheumy soon, and I hope he or she can help.

Just one comment about your hand. I'm pretty sure the ulnar nerve affects only the pinky finger and the pinky side of the ring finger. So if you have 3 numb fingers, it's not likely to be from the ulnar nerve being pinched.

Please don't jump to any hasty conclusions, and do your best to cope between now and Monday. Let us know what your rheumy says.

ess

[Heather3418]

I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling so poorly.  Please try not to be scared, just because MS was mentioned.  Our entire lives are based on the unknown, no matter what trials or physical disorders we may be facing.

I have read through some of your profile and posts and see that you have had alot going on in your life.  You have faced that with much bravery and you will face whatever will come, with bravery.

At least you see your doctor on Monday and hopefully you can start on the road to finding out what is causing these walking problems and hand numbness.  Since you talk about the last three fingers on your left hand, that could acutally be something separate and apart from your other complaints.  That could be coming from something called ulnar neuropathy.  The ulnar nerve may be trapped somewhere along it's path, most commonly on the inside of the elbow.  It will cause the same symptoms that you are talking about.  Of course, I am not a doctor, merely someone trying to help you through my own experiences.  I was diagnosed with MS over a decade ago, along with some other problems that have nothing to do with MS.

It's hard for a doctor to get all these symptoms straighten out.  There is alot to consider.  We kid on this Forum about wishing that, "Dr. House," from the TV program 'House' was available in real life to help figure out what is wrong with us. If you know of this program, wouldn't it be awesome to have people on our side, like his team on TV?

Please keep us updated about your appointment on Monday.  We will all be here trying to help as best as we can, by providing you that soft shoulder to lean on.

Keep your chin up...you are among many friends.

Heather