Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month 2016
A couple of days ago we invited our readers to take part in a poll regarding the age when they first
presented symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
If you have not already done so it would be great if you could take part by going to https://patienttalk.org/?p=1364.
This is the follow up poll. This time were looking at what age you were diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. the aim is to find out the global disparity between the presentation of symptoms and the final diagnosis.
The poll is below. Thanks very much in advance.
| BrendaStapleton | I was 40, nearing 41 when I developed optic neuritis. I had been treating for Fibromyalgia for two years at that point. One year later, I began to suffer from facial pain and was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. I was sent to the ENT 4 months later for excruciating ear pain and vertigo to the point I was losing my balance. I already had balance issues from a nerve injury from an overstretched sciatic nerve in my L hip post hip replacement in 2006. I was thinking it was all related to some weird phenomenon of the hip injury. The ENT suggested an MRI which indicated lesions on my brain. I was referred to Neuro and had multiple electro-magnetic tests done. My R eye showed damage to the optic nerve. I have no function in the Motor Nerve in my left leg, so that was down for the count. However, the testing to my spinal cord was completely skewed. My family doctor is very upset as he feels this may have been treating me for fibro when in fact it could have been MS. However, nobody really knows when it transpired. All I know is the cause is unknown and so is the cure. If ever a cure is found, I will be more than happy to spread the word. |
| LeeFischer | Although I wasn’t diagnosed for at least 12 years after the first symptom, it was wonderful not suspecting MS. I thought I was falling apart because of age and had my symptoms treated by the appropriate doctor. It wasn’t until I finally had to mention to my family doctor, I had a balance issue that I was referred to the ENT. Two years later (quite a waiting list), the ENT ordered an MRI which found the lesions on my brain. Unfortunately, this was a shock to my family doctor as I had always gone directly to the appropriate doctor for the “fall apart” symptom. Now I keep my family doctor informed! |
I was 40, nearing 41 when I developed optic neuritis. I had been treating for Fibromyalgia for two years at that point. One year later, I began to suffer from facial pain and was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. I was sent to the ENT 4 months later for excruciating ear pain and vertigo to the point I was losing my balance. I already had balance issues from a nerve injury from an overstretched sciatic nerve in my L hip post hip replacement in 2006.
I was thinking it was all related to some weird phenomenon of the hip injury. The ENT suggested an MRI which indicated lesions on my brain. I was referred to Neuro and had multiple electro-magnetic tests done. My R eye showed damage to the optic nerve. I have no function in the Motor Nerve in my left leg, so that was down for the count. However, the testing to my spinal cord was completely skewed. My family doctor is very upset as he feels this may have been treating me for fibro when in fact it could have been MS. However, nobody really knows when it transpired.
All I know is the cause is unknown and so is the cure. If ever a cure is found, I will be more than happy to spread the word.
Although I wasn’t diagnosed for at least 12 years after the first symptom, it was wonderful not suspecting MS. I thought I was falling apart because of age and had my symptoms treated by the appropriate doctor. It wasn’t until I finally had to mention to my family doctor, I had a balance issue that I was referred to the ENT. Two years later (quite a waiting list), the ENT ordered an MRI which found the lesions on my brain. Unfortunately, this was a shock to my family doctor as I had always gone directly to the appropriate doctor for the “fall apart” symptom. Now I keep my family doctor informed!