the right side of my body

[jjs]

I have been having real struggles with the right side of my body. It seems if something goes numb, it's always the right side. Here lately it's been the WHOLE right side not working right. It is not completely numb but it just feels wrong from the top of my head to the bottom of my foot. Certain movements are difficult ... like peeling cucumbers and pushing the gas pedal in my car. Hard to grip. Hard to type. Hard to walk normal.

I was reading on here that symptoms like these can often indicate that something will be wrong in the future. I was wondering if anyone could share with me their experiences with this? The progression of your MS. I know no one is the same but for some reason it just helps me to know that I am not alone and I appreciate hearing what others are going through.

I assume I will need a cane at some point; I've already resisted the urge to use one several times because I believe that "if you don't use it you lose it" ... but maybe I'm wrong? Maybe I'm making it worse or possibly causing some sort of 'off balance' thing and making problems in other places as a result? Meaning, if I am walking funny because my right side is not working right, I might throw something off in my back or knee or other leg or whatever, does that make sense? If this is true, maybe it would be wise to get a cane?

Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions? Help?

I am so thankful for this board.

[22cyclist]

Joanne: First, by your tag line, I assume you have not been diagnosed, but probably have MS. When one side of your body is not working well in an MS patient, it is usually related to a lesion either on that side of the body or the other side of the body, depending on where it is located (brain, brain stem, spinal cord). In any event, it will cause weakness, loss of balance, etc. You will need your neurologist to help you through this. The first thing I would do is go to a physical therapist. They can evaluate your walk and tell if you need a cane at this point, and teach you how to walk properly with one. This is important so you don't hurt yourself more. You need to see your neurologist again to get diagnosed, it is worth it for sure, there are medications that can slow the disease, but that is up to you.

Good luck with everything.

Lisa
Moderation Team

[tracibk]

My right side is my "bad" side. Ever since one of my big relapses (after my second daughter in 2010 where my whole right side was very weak ) my right leg is the first to get fatigued when I do too much walking. I bought a cane about 6 months ago and, although I don't use it all the time because I force myself to rest when I start feeling bad, it has come in handy. I remember the first time I used it in public (my family was at a hotel with an indoor pool where the pool area was hot and humid and our room was far away, I could feel the stares of people because I am too young to need one. But I didn't care because I would have fallen and then they would have been starring at "the drunk girl who fell"!!

[jjs]

Joanne: First, by your tag line, I assume you have not been diagnosed, but probably have MS.... The first thing I would do is go to a physical therapist. They can evaluate your walk and tell if you need a cane at this point, and teach you how to walk properly with one. This is important so you don't hurt yourself more. You need to see your neurologist again to get diagnosed, it is worth it for sure, there are medications that can slow the disease, but that is up to you.

Good luck with everything.

Lisa
Moderation Team

No, I am not officially diagnosed but the neurologists said it's only a matter of time before something more solid shows up on the MRI scans. I do all I can to stay away from doctors ... it was a big step for me to go in the first place!! 3 gps, 2 neuros (one an MS specialist but both on the same team) and a lot of tests ... all agree MS except the spots on the MRI - drs want them to be more specific I guess? Or maybe they are waiting for more? Or bigger ones? I did not ask.

Anyway, thank you for the physical therapist suggestion. I didn't even think about that. No insurance but I might be able to find a PT for a reasonable price?

I am *considering* going back to the neurologist in november like she suggested. We'll see.

Like I said before, it just helps me in some way to hear what others are going through. I can certainly handle the issue with my right side and would much rather it be that than my mind, you know? It seems I can handle anything MS throws at me except whenever it messes with my mind: mainly concentration and confusion. When this happens it is always a trial for me.

Thanks again!

[Thinkimjob]

I'd say if the whole right side of your body feels numb and you're having trouble walking, you're probably going to have to go back and get your official diagnosis. If you want drugs, that is.
You don't have to take dmds, unless you want to, but there are other drugs that help with the symptoms, more or less.
My bad side is my left. Everything, and I mean everything, just plain doesn't work like it should.
Fifteen years of dmds - would it be worse if I hadn't taken them? Probably, but it's not been much fun in any case.
Do what you feel is best for you.

[jjs]

update ...

Well - the right side is worse than ever I am nearly useless lately. I did set up my next neuro appt and MRIs for the beginning of dec. Right now what I think I am dealing with is letting it all sink in. This is my new reality. Of course I hope and pray this goes away. Maybe it's just part of the current flare and I'll get better. It's hard to see over this mountain right now and I am too lame to walk over it.

Believe it or not, I am trying to stay positive ... but real too.

I have read about an occupational therapy room on this forum but for some reason I cannot find it. Can someone point me to it?

[bwmorris]

Well - the right side is worse than ever I am nearly useless lately. I did set up my next neuro appt and MRIs for the beginning of dec. Right now what I think I am dealing with is letting it all sink in. This is my new reality. Of course I hope and pray this goes away. Maybe it's just part of the current flare and I'll get better. It's hard to see over this mountain right now and I am too lame to walk over it.

Believe it or not, I am trying to stay positive ... but real too.

I have read about an occupational therapy room on this forum but for some reason I cannot find it. Can someone point me to it?

(Here's my silly Latin joke) Well, jjs, if you're no longer able to be dextrous, you might just have to settle for being sinister. "Dexter" means "right" in Latin, while "sinister" means "left". There's something about the flight of a bird and good or bad omens in there…And jokes are always funny when they involve Latin and require explanations, no?

Anyway, now that I'm done being a socially inept goofball (it's temporary, let me assure you), here's that sub-forum on occupational therapy:
http://www.msworld.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=97

[Sissy]

My rt side is first placeI had problems. years before DX. My Neuro said it is common for that to be the way it is. I remember 20yr ago telling my PCP I had weird sensations on my rt side, like it would feel wet or like water was running down it. He said it sounded like something in my brain was miss-firing! I asked him if it could be MS he shrugged and said maybe.

3 yrs ago I could not talk or walk, he still refused to check and almost threw my husband and I out of his office for even mentioning it! We fired him! 2 wks later new Drs and a DX of MS.

[aspen]

I am exactly the same way -- right side only. Either just hand/arm, just leg or the works (I can feel it from my neck to my foot). I hear you on the difficulties -- driving is a real problem never mind getting caps off (or all my hobbies -- knitting, climbing, hiking, drawing, playing guitar). Yesterday I had to drive a couple of hours -- no fine motion in my right leg ... made for some rather sudden stops :-(. And yes, typing is a bit of a joke -- left hand types faster and well, so the left letters get typed out before the o's and l's :-P.

I've actually been considering how a cane would even work. When it's at it's worst, I do limp and I do try to compensate with my other leg and I end up messing up my left knee with patella fibular syndrome (and sometimes my right hip if I'm swinging my leg out). BUT at that point I have little grip/strength in my right hand (up to the shoulder) and I"m not sure I'd be able to even use a cane.

My last event only lasted around 3.5 weeks though -- now I just have the leftovers (right side tires very easily, especially driving, cleaning -- wringing and scrubbing mess up my hand and arm). This one was much shorter than the first time I had right side issues.

I do find that physiotherapy helps bring my right side back up to close to where it was. When I was assessed in May (after about 6 weeks of r.s. trouble) I had disuse atrophy, and that is something they can help with. Just an idea. Took me 50 minutes a day to do all the exercises but within about six weeks I'd pretty much got the right side caught up with the left. (True, it used to be MUCH stronger, but i digress :-P). If you haven't already, I'd really recommend a PT evaluation. My physiotherapist has been more help than my family doctor (I'm in limbo too, btw).

I just can't start the physio until the actual "Event" or "Episode" or whatever it is is done and I'm dealing with residual weakness, or else I really hurt my arm (mostly my rotator cuff). It's a bit tricky figuring out when that is -- generally I try to start and things start to hurt and I back off and wait a bit longer.

Have you had a full neuro exam? I have something called pyramidal tract dysfunction -- most of the right side tests have off results. I wonder if you have that as well?

I also remember that post about things you experience now possibly indicating areas of future non-use/progression ... haven't been able to find it.

I'm grateful for this board too :-). Be well, despite the crazy!

[gbash]

For me, my right side currently stays more numb, especially my foot and leg. However, my left side stays weaker and has reduced nerve action. The MS started in my left foot and quickly spread to most of my body before it finally stabilized and then partly went into remission, with relapses every few months since.

[misslux]

aspen, if your right side is weak then you hold the cane in your left hand. When walking, the cane goes forward as your weak leg goes forward.

I know it doesn't sound right, but it is!

[aspen]

It really doesn't sound right, but thank you so much misslux!! I have always been under the impression that the cane needed to be on the weak side.

BUt wow -- it would feel so uncoordinated!

[jjs]

(Here's my silly Latin joke) Well, jjs, if you're no longer able to be dextrous, you might just have to settle for being sinister. "Dexter" means "right" in Latin, while "sinister" means "left". There's something about the flight of a bird and good or bad omens in there…And jokes are always funny when they involve Latin and require explanations, no?

Anyway, now that I'm done being a socially inept goofball (it's temporary, let me assure you), here's that sub-forum on occupational therapy:
http://www.msworld.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=97

Thanks for the humor Actually, I have been trying to use my left side more, which is not the hardest thing for me since I believe I was supposed to be left handed. My grandparents were of the school of thought that it was not good at all to be left handed so every time I used my left hand they smacked it and put the object into my right hand. Thanks to them, I am backwards in many things ... but it makes for an interesting story anyway. (they helped raise me and I loved them dearly)

Thank you for the link. I found the board somehow on my own, tucked away as a sub board. I have been a 'member' of these forums for almost two years and I am just now discovering the other forums beyond the first few
Excellent resource.

Thanks again!

[jjs]

I am exactly the same way -- right side only. Either just hand/arm, just leg or the works (I can feel it from my neck to my foot). I hear you on the difficulties -- driving is a real problem never mind getting caps off (or all my hobbies -- knitting, climbing, hiking, drawing, playing guitar). Yesterday I had to drive a couple of hours -- no fine motion in my right leg ... made for some rather sudden stops :-(. And yes, typing is a bit of a joke -- left hand types faster and well, so the left letters get typed out before the o's and l's :-P.

I've actually been considering how a cane would even work. When it's at it's worst, I do limp and I do try to compensate with my other leg and I end up messing up my left knee with patella fibular syndrome (and sometimes my right hip if I'm swinging my leg out). BUT at that point I have little grip/strength in my right hand (up to the shoulder) and I"m not sure I'd be able to even use a cane.

I do not feel safe to drive when I am like this. And the other things you mention are a struggle for me too (swap piano for guitar and eliminate the climbing; never had the desire to do that but I LOVE to hike (or ... loved ...)).

As for the cane, I know someone else already made the correction about how it would go in your LEFT hand instead of the right. Use a cane for a while and you'll understand why. I think of it like this: my right side is dysfunctional and causing problems to the rest of my body. In order to balance it out, I need something on the other side of my left. So my left becomes my new right and my cane becomes my new left. Right? Right. Clear as mud. But really, it makes a big difference using a cane properly.

I do find that physiotherapy helps bring my right side back up to close to where it was. When I was assessed in May (after about 6 weeks of r.s. trouble) I had disuse atrophy, and that is something they can help with. Just an idea.

I'll have to ask my dr about this, thank you.

Have you had a full neuro exam? I have something called pyramidal tract dysfunction -- most of the right side tests have off results. I wonder if you have that as well?

What would you define as a 'full neuro exam'? I have been to the neuro 3 times. At the first visit she did a lot of different stuff that at the time I had no clue what she was up to. I was very ignorant and actually thankful for it. She had me do a variety of things with my eyes opened or closed; my daughter was there and said I was wavering all over the place whenever my eyes were closed which is something I did not realize. I thought everyone did that but now I know differently. The babinski was positive, though only my bit toes moved, the rest stayed very still. She ordered more MRIs and said 'text book case' just waiting for more definitive spots. There are a few but they could be due to my previous rough lifestyle and upbringing. New MRIs are set for the beginning of december and she said it's only a matter of time before definite spots show up. She not see the sense in doing a LP and I am very thankful for that. She said everything points to MS and the LP is a crapshoot anyway. It could 'suggest MS' but if all the signs are there anyway then what's the point? I like her.

And on a side note, a new symptom to add to the list ... sudden, unexplained, extreme itching in my right foot. I do not much care for this symptom but oh well.

Pyramidal tract dysfunction? Never heard of it. I'll try to remember to bring that up to my neuro next time. I looked it up and can see how people with MS would have that and it seems I would just assume it was part of the MS. But I guess it's a different thing altogether?

[misslux]

I know it totally sounds wrong. I thought the same thing too! It sounds counter-intuitive but once you know the mechanics, it does start to make sense.

It goes on your strong side and adds support when your weak leg goes forward. Because it is weak, it is hard to support both sides when it is forward and makes things off balance. So essentially both the cane and the weak leg are forward at the same time.

I had to learn to use it properly. Next time you are in PT, have them show you and practice even if you don't feel like you need it. Canes are super cheap too, like $20-30 at the drug store so grab one before you need it. Also, the height matters a lot. Adjust it so that the top of the handle hits where your wrist and hand connect.

Once you know how to use it properly, you can spot it when actors on TV or movies are using it incorrectly!