After suffering with SEVERE muscle aches I reported to the doctor. During the visit, she asked for the heel and toe routine. No biggie - I've been walking stone walls and sidewalk curbs my whole life. BAM! Could not do it without that falling stride. Am presently getting all the tests needed to rule out everything but MS. In my heart and soul - I know it's the upcoming diagnosis. My falls have been severe enough to have broken a foot and incurred MANY scratches and bruises. I have shared the heel to toe video with beloved family and dearest friends. Will keep everyone informed. The video was a great help to those who have watched me fall. They understand it better. I'd love to eventually post my heel to toe. I cannot do two steps without the "balancing act".
Hi Christine,
I'm glad to hear that Merely Me's video helped you to explain this to your family. That heel-to-toe walk is challenging, but I find the walk on-the-toes and on-the-heels to be impossible.
The diagnosis process for MS can be a very long one and some people do not get answers quickly. Hang in there and if you've got any questions or wish to reach out to the community here, please do not hesitate. There are others here who are "in limbo" regarding an MS diagnosis.
Thank you for posting. I hope that you do not have MS, but if you do, it is not the end of the world.
Lisa
Nice of you to comment Lisa. I go for my brain CAT SCAN tomorrow (with the dye). The doctor said the MRI will be the final test, and the most reliable in searching if MS is the definite diagnosis. She said she wants to rule everything out. Was your heel to toe falling the sympton that sent you to the doctor? I wonder what else causes that dreaded heel to toe falling. Were you diagnosed? What tests were you given? Thanks for being there.
Hi Christine,
So today is CAT scan day. I hope that it went well. No, balance issues is not what sent me to a neurologist. I first had a blinding (lastest 2 months) case of optic neuritis in 2000. But at the that there were no lesions found on the brain or optic nerves, so no diagnosis.
In 2005, I had tingling/numbness in my left hand which spread up my arm and then over my shoulder blade to the spine. That is what caused my PCP to send me to get an MRI of the neck. When the results came (the next morning), my PCP called to say see was referring me to a neurologist for "another, expert opinion."
So the testing began. MRIs of brain/neck w/ and w/o contrast. Evoked potential tests. Then lumbar puncture (spinal tap). These came back with positive findings but I still didn't get the official diagnosis until new lesions showed on a follow-up MRI. Oh, and lots of bloodwork which came back fine with no problems.