numbness in face here and there

[Jellybeanxo]

hi everyone I was diagnosed with MS back in 2018 I am currently 31 years old. I recently started feeling numbness in the left side of my face. It’s not always there but I wanted to see if there was anyone that had this kind of symptom when I was first diagnosed my first symptoms of a MS were as numbness in my legs that spread out through my back after being on medication I didn’t really have that anymore since 2018 and now, I think I may be in a relapse I’m not too sure but I just wanted to see if anyone was experiencing this symptom before

[MSFlea]

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with that. I'm new to MS myself, but my neuro told me that with any new symptom like that to let them know through the portal system right away, especially if it lasted a day or more. Just my personal way of doing things, with numbness, I tell my neuro right away because the flare that started me on my journey to being diagnosed with MS, the first symptom I recall is my right thumb going numb for a week. Not completely, just mostly. Wishing you the best 🧡

[Jellybeanxo in reply to MSFlea]

I have an appointment with my neuro april 1st. Hopefully he can help out.

I wish you all the best.

What medicine are you taking?

[MSFlea in reply to Jellybeanxo]

I just started Kesimpta. I heard a lot of good things about it and I watched Aaron Boster on Youtube, a video where he goes over his top 10 DMT's and Kesimpta was in the top 3, I think. Honestly it was between Ocrevus and Kesimpta for me, and my neuro didn't like Ocrevus for me because of other things I have going on.

I hope that your neuro is able to figure things out for you! Best of luck to you!🧡

[NorasMom]

Always report any new symptoms that last for more than 24 hours with no obvious cause. If you're having a relapse, they may be able to halt it with IV steroids.

I rarely deal with numbness these days, but it was pretty normal for me for a few years.

[Jellybeanxo in reply to NorasMom]

I have been diagnosed since 2018 I just usually leave it and I’ve never taken steroids or was given that option… so when a new sx comes I just go with it.. but I will talk to my neuro when I see him on April 01 and see if that’s an option.

[BettysMom in reply to Jellybeanxo]

Taking steroids for minor symptoms is not a good idea. It is fine just to let your body heal on its own. Most new symptoms last no longer than 8 weeks with RRMS. Repeated or long term corticosteroids can do considerable harm to your body and there is no evidence that treating exacerbations with steroids is beneficial long term. In other words, steroids may shorten the exacerbation, but otherwise they do nothing to improve the course of the disease.

[ahrogers]

I did develop numbness that made it so I didn't feel it when I flossed or cleaned inside my ears about 6 months after I was diagnosed. My neurologist at the time told me it wasn't a symptom of MS but because my legs were also feeling heavy he ordered MRIs. I had a new lesion in my cervical cord and I am sure a new one in my brain even though that was read as stable.A different neurologist who was reviewing my MS course and MRIs with me pointed to a brain lesion and said that was the one that caused that numbness. She mentioned she also reads MRIs for MS patients (she was wondering if she was the one who read mine).

My first symptoms were similar to yours, numbness in my feet that spread up my legs over a couple of months. I have decreased sensation pretty much every where now, worse in my feet.

I did a round of steroids when first diagnosed that didn't help the symptoms. The neurologist had told me they help more with motor symptoms than sensory symptoms.

I was diagnosed in 2014 and started on Gilenya. After that first relapse I wanted to do Lemtrada but it had just been approved and insurance would only cover if you had failed 2 prior DMTs so I went on Rebif for a year. During that time my hands got more numb. Even though there weren't any new lesions I decided to go on a clinical trial with Ocrevus in 2016 and have been on it ever since. Still no new lesions but a slow progression of symptoms that I think are due to atrophy of the spinal cord where my lesions have been scarring down over time. I plan to ask my neuro about changing to Mavenclad when I see her in July.

Your neuro will probably want another MRI and decide what to do based on results. Maybe they can get you in for one before your appointment.

[hairbrain4]

Sorry you are having that. It was the numbness in face & tongue that sent me on my MS journey. I knew it was a facial nerves vs. a nerve in my neck as I taught cosmetology. I already had an appt with my Dr for something else, so I told him about it. He sent me for an MRI & then I was sent to an MS specialist. I was diagnosed with MS for my 50th birthday. For years, the numbness would come & go. I haven't had it for about 4 years now. I know it can be annoying. But it never caused any problems for me. I hope yours goes away soon.

[Humbrd]

Yes I have experienced that. Before I knew I had MS I had numbness in the left side of my face and I went to the hospital and they thought it was a stroke then they decided it wasn't. Whenever I get overly stressed and my symptoms flare I get numbness in my face.

[Tazmanian]

Talk to your neurologist and seriously follow his instructions because he knows more about MS than you or if you don't trust him find another doctor

[Xvettech]

yes I get numbness in my face when I’m having a flare up. It’s left side too

[Cwright170994]

Numbness on the left side of my face, as well as vertigo, got me my clinically definite diagnosis of RRMS. I was given a CIS diagnosis a year before when I went to the neuro with simple partial temporal lobe seizures. It took absolute AGES for me to actually get the referral because my GP didn't believe me 🙄 I was 21 when I got the clinically definite diagnosis. That was in November 2015. Got started on copaxone, but I'm now on ocrevus 😁

[bookish]

Vitamin B12 deficiency is not uncommon in MS (and indeed occasionally MS is misdiagnosed B12D), so it would be worth trying to get full B12 testing, although you may have to do it privately. There is considerable cross-over of symptoms and B vitamins may be useful to you. I do not have an MS diagnosis but did have other misdiagnoses for my B12 problem. Facial numbness has now resolved for me. Best wishes

[stepsforNeeC]

yes, my friend. Especially if I have done too much or extremely fatigued! One thing about MS, it can be unpredictable regarding symptoms and when they decide to show up. Good idea to let your doctor know about any and all new symptoms you encounter. Blessings and feel better soon. NeeC

[Littledeer]

I have that a lot in fact I’m having it right now. Also dealing with prolonged double vision and eye pain from optic neuritis that started last August. I have totally lost confidence in neurologist. Thank goodness some other specialist are trying to figure it out. Hope your facial numbness is short lived!!