DoxieMoxie

I doubt they are related in the way you think. The nerves serving the areas are different. Our bodies can generate all sorts of strange sensations at times, especially during pregnancy or due to anxiety, but even just at normal times. I wouldn’t spend a lot of time analyzing it. Most of the time we don’t really know what causes a sensation, and most often, we don’t need to do. If something really persists or becomes very bothersome, you see your GP and let them investigate if they think it’s necessary. In your case, though, you have a lot of symptoms in different places jumping around. And as I explained above, that is seldom how MS or anything serious manifests. Be kind to yourself and stop the analysis :)

The testing you had definitively rules out MS and ALS. I’m also assuming that the neuro examined you? If there were signs of the other neurological diseases you mention, he would have mentioned it and/or wanted to do further testing/evaluation. When neurons examine you, they always have their differential diagnoses in mind. I actually think he gave you a diagnosis, one which seems entirely consistent with the issues you describe. It’s hard to accept that it can be somatic or driven by anxiety, but you’ve had a thorough workup for neurological issues. You have a real diagnosis and it can be every bit as disabling if you don’t treat it. I really encourage you to seek therapy and/or medication, along with good diet, exercise, sleep regimen etc. Good luck!!

I would definitely follow your GP’s advice, which I think you deep down know makes sense. If you actually had MS and you received no tx for years, you would likely have had more attacks/symptoms. What you describe is WAY more consistent with anxiety. And yes, MS is not a death sentence at all (not that there’s any evidence you have it). There are more aggressive forms, but the treatments have advanced so much. I currently don’t have any significant symptoms and have been on my treatment regimen for several years, with no further lesions. Fingers crossed it stays that way. I was lucky in that most of my issues were sensory and not motor deficits. I tell you all this to make this point: I can honestly say that I suffered way way more from my HA than I ever did from MS. Commit to getting your HA under control; it will be the best decision you ever make, regardless of whatever actual diseases will ever come your way.

Jess, I’m so sorry to hear you are anxious about MS again. I received your PM and decided to respond here. As you may recall, I actually have MS and suffered badly from HA before my diagnosis. You describe very non-specific symptoms. As you know, tingling and numbness can be caused by all sorts of things, including nerve compressions during pregnancy and anxiety. MS doesn’t usually present all over like you describe, bc it tends to correlate with locations of lesions. Also, the fact that your symptoms started before the MRIs and are now recurring due to pregnancy stress/anxiety argue against a true neurological cause. By all means, see your GP if you are concerned, but believe what he or she tells you. I’m not a dr but not really concerned about anything you report given the big picture.

Zoloft is a SSRI. While SSRIs are really quite good for long-term anxiety treatment, they do increase anxiety in the short term. I'm very surprised that your dr didn't explain it to you. Drs will often give a short-term prescription for a benzo (like Ativan) to get a person over the initial 2-3 weeks of increased anxiety. SSRIs are also not really effective for many people until 6-8 weeks of use. Perhaps reconsider the use of medication with a trusted PCP who can help you get over the initial rough weeks.

As others on here know, I actually have MS so have learned quite a bit about the disease. Let me make a couple of observations regarding the things you and Concerned PA mention. MS can present in lots of different ways and the symptoms are pretty diverse. Some of those symptoms overlap a lot with symptoms of other diseases, including anxiety. For example, tingling can be caused by so so many things. That is why HA sufferers quickly jump to MS. HOWEVER: 1. A clear brain MRI is very good evidence of no MS. Yes, lesions can show up later, but so can cancer. That's part of life. Yes, there are a few exceptional cases where it only first shows up on a spinal MRI. I was one of those. But please note point no. 2. 2. Although MS can present with a variety of symptoms, the symptoms do appear in certain patterns that neurologists know to recognize. I'm not going to explain this in a lot of detail, because your anxious minds will start to develop the symptoms or imagine the patterns. In my case, although my brain MRI was negative, the specific presentation of my symptoms quickly lead my neuro to order a spine MRI. The way you guys describe your symptoms does not sound like MS to me at all. Neuros know how to distinguish between anxiety symptoms and MS symptoms only too well. 3. It does sometimes take a while to diagnose MS because of the strict criteria, but that doesn't mean that a neuro doesn't know to strongly suspect it or dismiss it. After my spine MRI, the neuro could not formally diagnose MS until I also developed an issue in a separate area (brief eye problems). But she made very clear what she thought early on. So don't confuse time for formal diagnosis with time to figure out that MS is not responsible.

I completely understand how you feel. It is a miserable, lonely, fearful place to be. And I think Zencube gets that too -- he was trying in his way to shake you and get you back to reality. I strongly stand by my earlier comment; nothing you describe even remotely is a symptom of ALS. By all means, if the shaking persists, work with your doctor to figure out what is causing it, but you need not fear ALS.

Legs shaking when you lift them up is not how ALS presents. If you were completely unable to lift or were dragging one of your legs, I'd recommend seeing a dr. Even if that were the case, there are so many other more likely causes that would have to be ruled out. But both legs shaking when you lift them? Don't know what it is, and could be purely anxiety, but definitely not ALS.

You can add all these symptoms, but it still doesn't sound like anything other than an acute injury. You will have some weakness with an acute injury. You would do well to give it some rest, because if you are engaging in strength testing, it could worsen the injury.

Yes.

Your symptoms sound very vague and all over the place. Not how MS typically presents. If you're really worried, go see your PCP, have him/her do a basic neuro exam, and discuss your symptoms. I'm very confident you will be reassured.

I completely understand that line of thinking, but it has everything to do with your HA and not reality. For people with HA who fear ALS, if you mention the word weakness, they immediately jump to it. But the reality is that weakness occurs in so so many medical conditions, such as e.g. a back injury. On top of that, even without a medical condition, our bodies are not symmetrically strong. You are really, really grasping at straws here

Your brain MRI was clear, and thus almost certainly rules out MS. The way you describe your symptoms (locations, patterns) just don't sound like MS either. Your leg symptom and back spasms don't sound remotely like ALS, so please put that out of your mind. Your sensory symptoms also totally point away from this. Honestly sounds like some disc compression issues, very much magnified by anxiety.

Benzos are really not clinically indicated for long-term use, and are now largely recommended for short-term use (7-14 days) to get over a period of intense anxiety (such as when starting a new SSRI drug) or as periodically needed as a rescue dose for a panic attack. The problem is that they used to be prescribed somewhat freely for long-term use, so you are not the only ones who have been on them for many years. The biggest problem with long-term use is not serious cognitive decline, but addiction and tolerance. After a while, the dose you take no longer works well, and you have to take more to get the same effect. I highly recommend the Ashton Manual as well, but absolutely work with your doctor on whether it is a good idea to taper, and if so, how to do it correctly.

Absolutely be honest with your dr, tell him your symptoms, and that you have HA and fear ALS. You might as well put it all on the table so your dr has the whole picture and can do his best to reassure you. Just don't expect him to order a bunch of ALS tests for you; if he's not concerned, you shouldn't be either. On the other hand, if he does order some tests, consider that he may well do it for your peace of mind, more than medical necessity. Good luck!