Greetings! I just discovered this great message board this past weekend. You are all so wonderfully kind and informative! I'm 57, was dx on July 4, 2010. No hx of MS in any family member, but mom had some autoimmune issues.
Prior to dx, I had horrific hand pain for several months, thought it was arthritis starting. Numbness on and off in fingertips, numbness on right side for a few days, then the mother load of Trigeminal Neuralgia hit (on a Sunday a.m., of course) and off to urgent care in tears. Eventhough it presented in a weird place (ON my ear!), the Dr. dx'ed it, prescribed gabapentin, and told me to see my PCP the following day. My astute PCP immediately ordered an MRI, and it was all downhill from there!
MRI showed several brain and spinal cord lesions, and the dx was confirmed with a positive lumbar puncture. Within a week I started on Copaxone, increased the gabapentin, tried several other drugs for crazy fatigue, until I found ritalin, which finally helped.
Cognitive issues are a total drag, but for now, I am fortunate to be able to continue working full-time. I can't believe what I don't remember--and names???? I give up!
I do have a couple of questions for those more seasoned MS'ers, so I'll post on the appropriate boards. Thanks so much for all you do.
--Nancy
Prior to dx, I had horrific hand pain for several months, thought it was arthritis starting. Numbness on and off in fingertips, numbness on right side for a few days, then the mother load of Trigeminal Neuralgia hit (on a Sunday a.m., of course) and off to urgent care in tears. Eventhough it presented in a weird place (ON my ear!), the Dr. dx'ed it, prescribed gabapentin, and told me to see my PCP the following day. My astute PCP immediately ordered an MRI, and it was all downhill from there!
MRI showed several brain and spinal cord lesions, and the dx was confirmed with a positive lumbar puncture. Within a week I started on Copaxone, increased the gabapentin, tried several other drugs for crazy fatigue, until I found ritalin, which finally helped.
Cognitive issues are a total drag, but for now, I am fortunate to be able to continue working full-time. I can't believe what I don't remember--and names???? I give up!
I do have a couple of questions for those more seasoned MS'ers, so I'll post on the appropriate boards. Thanks so much for all you do.
--Nancy
Comment