Putting MS in the Spectrum of Medical Diseases

Hello Dr. Gross,

I hope that you don't mind if I quote you on this at some point - "the variability of presentations in MS is legendary."

Truly it must be a complicated process to see a patient for the very first time and begin the diagnosis detective work.  Sometimes answers just don't come easily nor quickly.

As for me, I was diagnosed with a mood disorder around the same time I first experienced visual disturbances and intense headaches.  I ended up in an MRI machine but came out with no answers (other than it wasn't a brain tumor.)

It took 7 years before I had a diagnosed case of severe Optic Neuritis (without evidence of demyelination.)  Then another 5 years before an entire arm became affected which sent my neck through the MRI machine.  Bingo - off to the neurologist I was sent.

It never occurred to me that cycles of depression and several rounds of testing for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or hypothyroidism, would eventually be explained with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.  In fact, it wasn't until an infusion nurse was asking me questions about earlier possible symptoms that the mood disorder came up, and she looked at me with that "knowing face."

Each piece of the puzzle works to form the picture, which then may be altered by the next puzzle piece.  The MS the variability is legendary as you say.  Thank you.

I have been reading about the connection of migraines with MS.  I am wondering if there can be such thing as a painless migraine.  My friend who suffers from migraines tells me that preceding her migraine...she experiences a visual aura.  This seems very similar to what I also experience.  I will see a zig-zaggy half circle (resembling lit up mirrors) which grows to half of my periphery.  And this always signals a warning that I will be experiencing some MS symptoms shortly...usually spasms on my right side.

 I have just always been curious about this particular symptom. 

Multiple Sclerosis is certainly a mysterious disease.