@Houdini 

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Houdini

Getting used to diagnosis :-/

Hi all, 5 weeks post diagnosis and start of DMT, Tecfidera. I knew on first symptoms in the shower 18 months ago of the water on my arm Feeling different, progressing to pins and needles and numbness in arm and hand. Fighting with GP to take me seriously that it was not a trapped nerve! And I am a nurse! Finally a MRI after orthopaedic referal! C5 nerve root lesion. Left with permanent pins/needles and numbness in arm and hands. Neuro first thought it was Myelitis as no initial brain leisins. Now further scans over the last year showing brain lesions, met the McDonalds MS criteria! Going through a tough time of acceptance etc and being a Dad to a young daughter, working full time and just about to move house! All rather stressful. Add on top of this Mum diagnosed with Dementia! So she's changing in front of my eyes as my body to changes! What a crap year! Anyone else have nerve root lesions radically changing arm and hand feelings permanently. Struggling to cope, hate the feelings and arms and hands! 😕
@potter

When I had my diagnoses I had the same symptoms with my right arm as you do, my arm also hurt. I was also sent to the neuro for a pinched nerve. That was 10 years ago, I just had my first relapse two weeks ago, this time it was the entire right side of my body. It is slowly getting better just like my arm did 10 years ago. I took Rebif shots for the first 5 years and I have been on Tecfidera ever since. My neuro considered it a mild relapse and gave me a round of steroids. I am still unable to take a shower, every time I do a wave of numbing comes back. I am going to take sponge baths for a while. I would say the slightest change in my bodies temperature when I shower is my biggest problem. I still walk, without a cane, I am slower but I also just turned 65. I work in my clay studio almost everyday, I still have very strong hands, arms and shoulders. It seems like you are headed down the same path I went, I don't see any reason why you can't do as well or even better. We have been going through health problems with my mother in-law for two months now. It has been a crap year for us also, we didn't even do Christmas this year, we have been stuck inside because of the Polar freeze that has moved in. Hoping the New Year will be better. Potter

@californiadreamin

@houdini My wife was diagnosed almost a year before you and my dad had bladder cancer etc. So 2016 was that crap year for us and wasnt expecting 2017 to be better. However between the Tecfidera (which my wife had a horrible set of weeks from 2-8 with) and lifestyle changes, she recovered most of the numbness and tingling she had and hasnt relapsed again yet. We dont expect that will last necessarily so we are just thankful that 2017 was a really good year. We took up lots of diet improvements and exercise and 2017 and we are both stronger and feel better then we have ever. My dads cancer is in remission for now. As we cross into 2018 we are thankful that 2017 was a positive year when we expected it to be so much worse. No telling what the future holds, but dont give up hope! There is a lot to be hopeful about. Our kids were 11 and 13 and it has probably helped build their character to go through this. Really wishing the best for you next year!