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Is extreme stiffness in legs a good part of the time... A symptom of MS?

Already had back pain, degenerative disk. but about a year ago, I had a spasm up and down my back, and it's only been downhill from there. Months later, it turned to extreme stiffness. in my legs on the daily. with constant prickling and spasms in my back. The stiffness gets so bad I feel like I can barely walk., goes down to my feet.. I had an MRI done on my lumbar And they said I had degenerative jwith arthritis. But he said it didn't explain the extreme stiffness in my legs with prickles. I'm still trying to figure this out because he says he's gonna give me a. shot in the back, but I don't know that that's gonna help the stiffness or not, which is the worst part.. Do I need to see a neurologist? any help you could give me would be great, I've been going through a year of this, and I am so exhausted.

  1. Hi, !

    First off, I am sorry you are experiencing this issue on top of the other symptoms you are experiencing. Muscle stiffness can be a symptom of MS, but it can also be a symptom of other health conditions, so it would be wise to talk to your doctor about what you are experiencing. You mentioned you had an MRI and lumbar puncture done. Did the results not indicate MS?

    I wanted to share this article with you on the topic of MS spasm and spasticity -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/video/spasms-and-stiffness-life-with-spasticity. Also, here's some basic information on mobility and gait issues -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/symptoms/mobilty-walking-gait-balance. It has some tips for managing the issues and it also mentions other causes of these problems, such as arthritis, autoimmune conditions, etc. I wonder what shot your doctor is suggesting to help with the pain and stiffness, just out of curiosity. There are medications that can help, but they tend to last only so long and you may need sunsequent shots to maintain any relief you get, if that makes sense.

    I hope this helps and that you and your doctor are able to find the source of your muscle stiffness.

    Best, Erin, Team Member.

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