Researching Leg Spasms, Spasticity, and Cramps

[LisaQ.]

Leg spasticity is different from leg spasms. And leg cramps are different also. Spasticity is a whole set of symptoms that affect the posture of the legs, the way they respond to movement, pain, etc.

I had a terrible MS scare before I was dx'ed with fibromyalgia first, then BFS. I did all the same research that you are doing before I found this board. It was the biggest waste of my precious life I've ever subjected myself to. What I would do to get back the many hours of sleep I lost, the fun times I neglected to enjoy, and the life I put on hold-all for what?

The fibromyalgia dx was just a waste-basket diagnosis because no-one could figure out what was wrong with me. All of my tests were negative. The problem was, the two cardinal symptoms of fms (pain and sleep problems) I did not have, so my doctor agreed with my self-diagnosis of bfs.

All of these syndromes have certain overlapping symptoms that can be troubling. MS in particular has so many varied symptoms that it is very easy to talk yourself into having it, even if you were having no symptoms at all.

The truth is, if all of your tests are negative, you don't have MS, you don't have MS, you don't have MS.

Believe me, it is much harder to go through the MS scare when such a thing as "bfs" doesn't exist. (Such was the case with me until I found this great board.)

Try to relax, listen to what the good folks here are saying, and put MS behind you. Worrying about having it is only going to make you have MORE symptoms OF it! ( High anxiety can actually mimic the symptoms of MS.) Such was my experience.

Blessings.

 

[totaltwirls]

My sister-in-law has MS. As mentioned previously, symptoms were very noticeable. Her legs went numb from the knees down (I mean novacane numb) and it didn't go away. Prior to that, her feet were always cold, the cold feeling never went away and she would wear socks, but never got it checked out. They diagnosed her right away with a brain scan. I feared MS as well. An MRI of the brain and cervical spine confirmed I did not have it, as it would show lesions in certain positions within the brain and c-spine. She is on medication now and has been symptom free for more than 3 years and her and my brother just had their first child 2 weeks ago.....life goes on. If you have been tested, try and get those fears out of your mind and start thinking positive thoughts. I think you are one of us BFS'ers and we're glad you're here. By the way, leg spasticity is when your legs have difficulty moving within the joints, like they lock and when you go to move them (same thing with the arms), they would jump out erratically, not in a smooth fashion. As also mentioned previously, this happens later in the progression of the non-relapsing recurring form of MS, as I have been told.