Posted on Apr 21, 2018
Should I be more than 10% disabled for having Multiple Sclerosis?
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I am 39 years old, Female. I was Honorable Discharged in April of 2000. I was diagnosed with lower back pain strain, with right hip pain and stress reaction femoral neck pain. I was seen by a rheumatologist and they diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. however, I was never notified of it so I could submit it to the claims board. Then. I was diagnosed with Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and the VA did away with the fibromyalgia finding because it is similar to MS. I feel like the VA is treating me unfairly. People tell me I should be more than 10% because I am totally disabled and unable to work. I need to get one of the shirts that says "I'm not drunk, I have M.S.", F.Y.I. I don't do drugs or drink.
I am just struggling being a single mother, and living on a 1600 a month budget. I did have 2000 a month but I sat down and figured it out.
I am just struggling being a single mother, and living on a 1600 a month budget. I did have 2000 a month but I sat down and figured it out.
Posted in these groups: 
Disabled Veterans
VA Claim
Disabled Veterans VA Claim
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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Get with a claims Officer- DAV, American Legion, VFW, AMVets- someone who knows the system and file a new claim- MS is much worse the strains, etc.
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SPC Virginia Morgan
Thank You, I have been looking at my labs and tests so I can provide information to support my clam.
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SPC Virginia Morgan , I have worked with veterans for 13 years as a Disabled Veterans Service Officer. I love this veterans service organization because a wheelchair bound veteran inspired me to do more for veterans, although at the time I was young and my issues we're not complicated with age. So I was still feeling invincible and he said when you get older you are going to need the younger veterans to rally support for you. I encourage you to contact your DAV Regional Office in your state. The Veteran Service Offices are typically in the Federal Building with the Federal VA. If it is easier, call the DAV National Headquarters at [login to see] and ask to speak to "membership". Tell them you would like the DAV National Service Office for your state. Accredited Service Officers who adjudicate claims on behalf of veterans work in this office. Also, ask about Vocational Rehabilitation Training. If you have any questions, send me a message. Please follow through and make the call.
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SPC Virginia Morgan
In most people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the disease eventually leads to new or worsening neurological symptoms. Sometimes one of these new symptoms is numbness or a tingling or prickly sensation in your feet, which may be caused by MS lesions in your brain or spinal cord.
Numbness or tingling in your feet — or your hands, face, or body — can also be present early in the course of your multiple sclerosis or even before your diagnosis, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
But numb or tingling feet can be caused by a number of conditions other than MS, some of which can be treated or reversed. This means that while MS might be behind what’s happening in your feet, you shouldn’t assume this is the case. And sometimes, numb feet can be a sign of an undiagnosed condition — like diabetes or a nutrient deficiency — that requires urgent treatment.
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Here are some of the most common causes of numb or tingling feet in people with MS, along with some of the signs that may point toward one condition or another. It’s important to note that only a doctor can determine what’s causing your foot symptoms, and you should report any changes in sensation in your feet (or anywhere else in your body) to your neurologist or primary care doctor.
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1. MS (Of Course)
While it’s not the only condition that can cause numb feet, MS is likely to be the prime suspect unless you’re showing obvious signs of another condition.
“It would be human nature for someone with MS to say, ‘My feet are numb. It must be the MS,’” says Michael Polydefkis, MD, a neurologist and peripheral neuropathy specialist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. “And playing the odds, they might be right most of the time.”
If your foot numbness or tingling is caused by MS, the sensation will often spread up your leg over days to weeks as part of a relapse, according to Nancy Nealon, MD, a neurologist and MS specialist at New York–Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Another telltale sign that MS is likely the culprit is if you experience weakness in the same area as your numbness or in your opposite foot. “People with MS may have more weakness on one side and more numbness on the other,” Dr. Nealon notes.
To help determine whether your foot symptoms are caused by MS, Nealon says, your neurologist will most likely give you a physical examination that measures your response to vibration and temperature changes in the area. Your doctor will also want to check your reflexes, which are more likely to be affected by MS than other potential causes of numb feet.
Certain symptoms may help your doctor consider conditions other than MS. “Often it’s the localization of where the discomfort is” that points toward something else, says Nealon, since MS rarely causes sensation changes in just one area of the foot, such as the heel or big toe.
It’s also rare, Nealon says, for MS to cause sensation changes only when you put weight on your foot or wear certain shoes.
2. Diabetes
More than half of people with diabetes develop some form of neuropathy, or loss of nerve function, according to Mayo Clinic. The most common type of neuropathy in diabetes is peripheral neuropathy, which can cause numbness, burning, or tingling in your feet and legs.
Peripheral neuropathy, Dr. Polydefkis says, is “far and away the most common cause” of these symptoms in the general population, and diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Sometimes, he notes, the symptoms can be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes — and contrary to some beliefs, you don’t need to have diabetes for decades or even years to develop neuropathy.
According to Nealon, if you’re seeing an MS specialist, chances are you’re already undergoing regular screening that would detect a likely case of diabetes. “Almost always, with people who are on medication, we’re checking routine things, like glucose,” she notes. But it’s worth asking about this if you’re not sure your doctor is checking your blood glucose level.
3. Nutrient Deficiencies
Certain vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies can cause peripheral neuropathy. The most common of these, says Polydefkis, is a vitamin B12 deficiency.
“If someone with MS is vitamin B12 deficient but it’s missed, that would be a big mistake because that’s something we can do something about,” he notes. “If it’s dismissed and it’s not picked up, it could cause damage that might not be reversible.”
Nutrient deficiencies may also play a role in your risk for neuropathy if you have diabetes. In a study published in March 2017 in the journal Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, researchers found that among people with type 2 diabetes, those with peripheral neuropathy tended to have lower blood levels of folate and vitamin B12 than those without neuropathy.
But Nealon cautions that you shouldn’t increase any B vitamin supplements without knowing the cause of your neuropathy, since excessive vitamin B6 can actually cause sensory neuropathy.
4. Thyroid Problems
Having an underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, can cause or contribute to peripheral neuropathy, according to Polydefkis. “Lots of people with diabetes also have hypothyroidism,” he notes, and the two conditions may work in combination to increase the risk of foot symptoms.
5. Alcohol Use
“Alcohol is a well-established cause of peripheral neuropathy,” Polydefkis notes, but it takes more than a few drinks each week for this to be a likely factor in foot symptoms. Depending on your size, he says, having at least two to four drinks each day could put you at risk for neuropathy.
Heavy drinking can also cause or contribute to poor eating habits, putting you at risk for nutritional deficiencies that can further increase your neuropathy risk.
6. Cardiovascular Problems
According to Polydefkis, having a cluster of cardiovascular problems can lead to peripheral neuropathy, even if any one of these problems might not cause the symptom on its own. “If you have somebody with borderline diabetes, and they have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and they smoke, those people can develop peripheral neuropathy,” he says.
7. Spinal Cord Issues
A number of spine-related issues can cause numb feet, according to Polydefkis. The most obvious of these is MS, which can cause lesions on the spinal cord, but it’s important to keep the other potential causes in mind.
Like a vitamin B12 deficiency, a lack of copper can cause spinal cord problems, Polydefkis notes, as can a tumor, abscess, or other mass growing in the area. If you’re having imaging of your spine done as part of your routine MS appointments, it shouldn’t be hard to detect any growths in the area.
8. Pinched Nerves
When the tibial nerve — which provides sensation to the bottom of the foot — becomes compressed, it’s known as tarsal tunnel syndrome. This can happen due to swelling from a sprained ankle, diseases like diabetes and arthritis that can also cause swelling in the area, flat feet or fallen arches, or a structure like a swollen tendon or enlarged vein pressing against the nerve.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome can cause not only numbness and a tingling or burning sensation but also sharp, shooting pain. It can be diagnosed with a physical exam and imaging, and both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options are available, depending on its severity.
9. Shoe Problems
Sometimes simply wearing shoes that are too tight can cause or significantly contribute to numbness in your feet.
In addition, “If somebody can’t feel their feet anymore, I tell them all the time to be careful what shoes they wear,” Nealon notes. She recommends looking for shoes that provide good support but aren’t too heavy, without any constricted areas and with enough extra room for any brace that you wear.
10. Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Its early symptoms typically include muscle weakness and tingling sensations in the legs, which progress to weakness and abnormal sensations in the arms and upper body.
In some people, it may also cause pricking or tingling sensations in the feet in its early stages.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare and often develops following a bacterial or viral infection, although its cause is unknown. Doctors use a combination of medical history and a variety of neurological tests to diagnose it.
11. Stroke
In some cases, sudden numbness in one arm, leg, or foot is a symptom of a stroke. It may be accompanied by other stroke symptoms, including trouble speaking or understanding; paralysis of the face, arm, or leg; trouble seeing; headache; and trouble walking.
Stroke is a medical emergency, so if you think you may be having one, seek help immediately.
Last Updated:8/21/2017
Numbness or tingling in your feet — or your hands, face, or body — can also be present early in the course of your multiple sclerosis or even before your diagnosis, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
But numb or tingling feet can be caused by a number of conditions other than MS, some of which can be treated or reversed. This means that while MS might be behind what’s happening in your feet, you shouldn’t assume this is the case. And sometimes, numb feet can be a sign of an undiagnosed condition — like diabetes or a nutrient deficiency — that requires urgent treatment.
–– ADVERTISEMENT ––
thanks for watching!
Here are some of the most common causes of numb or tingling feet in people with MS, along with some of the signs that may point toward one condition or another. It’s important to note that only a doctor can determine what’s causing your foot symptoms, and you should report any changes in sensation in your feet (or anywhere else in your body) to your neurologist or primary care doctor.
Official Physician Site - Single Regimen Hep C Treatment
http://www.hep-c-treatment-hcp.com
Discover A Medication That Treats All Hepatitis C Genotypes. HCP Website.
1. MS (Of Course)
While it’s not the only condition that can cause numb feet, MS is likely to be the prime suspect unless you’re showing obvious signs of another condition.
“It would be human nature for someone with MS to say, ‘My feet are numb. It must be the MS,’” says Michael Polydefkis, MD, a neurologist and peripheral neuropathy specialist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. “And playing the odds, they might be right most of the time.”
If your foot numbness or tingling is caused by MS, the sensation will often spread up your leg over days to weeks as part of a relapse, according to Nancy Nealon, MD, a neurologist and MS specialist at New York–Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Another telltale sign that MS is likely the culprit is if you experience weakness in the same area as your numbness or in your opposite foot. “People with MS may have more weakness on one side and more numbness on the other,” Dr. Nealon notes.
To help determine whether your foot symptoms are caused by MS, Nealon says, your neurologist will most likely give you a physical examination that measures your response to vibration and temperature changes in the area. Your doctor will also want to check your reflexes, which are more likely to be affected by MS than other potential causes of numb feet.
Certain symptoms may help your doctor consider conditions other than MS. “Often it’s the localization of where the discomfort is” that points toward something else, says Nealon, since MS rarely causes sensation changes in just one area of the foot, such as the heel or big toe.
It’s also rare, Nealon says, for MS to cause sensation changes only when you put weight on your foot or wear certain shoes.
2. Diabetes
More than half of people with diabetes develop some form of neuropathy, or loss of nerve function, according to Mayo Clinic. The most common type of neuropathy in diabetes is peripheral neuropathy, which can cause numbness, burning, or tingling in your feet and legs.
Peripheral neuropathy, Dr. Polydefkis says, is “far and away the most common cause” of these symptoms in the general population, and diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Sometimes, he notes, the symptoms can be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes — and contrary to some beliefs, you don’t need to have diabetes for decades or even years to develop neuropathy.
According to Nealon, if you’re seeing an MS specialist, chances are you’re already undergoing regular screening that would detect a likely case of diabetes. “Almost always, with people who are on medication, we’re checking routine things, like glucose,” she notes. But it’s worth asking about this if you’re not sure your doctor is checking your blood glucose level.
3. Nutrient Deficiencies
Certain vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies can cause peripheral neuropathy. The most common of these, says Polydefkis, is a vitamin B12 deficiency.
“If someone with MS is vitamin B12 deficient but it’s missed, that would be a big mistake because that’s something we can do something about,” he notes. “If it’s dismissed and it’s not picked up, it could cause damage that might not be reversible.”
Nutrient deficiencies may also play a role in your risk for neuropathy if you have diabetes. In a study published in March 2017 in the journal Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, researchers found that among people with type 2 diabetes, those with peripheral neuropathy tended to have lower blood levels of folate and vitamin B12 than those without neuropathy.
But Nealon cautions that you shouldn’t increase any B vitamin supplements without knowing the cause of your neuropathy, since excessive vitamin B6 can actually cause sensory neuropathy.
4. Thyroid Problems
Having an underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, can cause or contribute to peripheral neuropathy, according to Polydefkis. “Lots of people with diabetes also have hypothyroidism,” he notes, and the two conditions may work in combination to increase the risk of foot symptoms.
5. Alcohol Use
“Alcohol is a well-established cause of peripheral neuropathy,” Polydefkis notes, but it takes more than a few drinks each week for this to be a likely factor in foot symptoms. Depending on your size, he says, having at least two to four drinks each day could put you at risk for neuropathy.
Heavy drinking can also cause or contribute to poor eating habits, putting you at risk for nutritional deficiencies that can further increase your neuropathy risk.
6. Cardiovascular Problems
According to Polydefkis, having a cluster of cardiovascular problems can lead to peripheral neuropathy, even if any one of these problems might not cause the symptom on its own. “If you have somebody with borderline diabetes, and they have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and they smoke, those people can develop peripheral neuropathy,” he says.
7. Spinal Cord Issues
A number of spine-related issues can cause numb feet, according to Polydefkis. The most obvious of these is MS, which can cause lesions on the spinal cord, but it’s important to keep the other potential causes in mind.
Like a vitamin B12 deficiency, a lack of copper can cause spinal cord problems, Polydefkis notes, as can a tumor, abscess, or other mass growing in the area. If you’re having imaging of your spine done as part of your routine MS appointments, it shouldn’t be hard to detect any growths in the area.
8. Pinched Nerves
When the tibial nerve — which provides sensation to the bottom of the foot — becomes compressed, it’s known as tarsal tunnel syndrome. This can happen due to swelling from a sprained ankle, diseases like diabetes and arthritis that can also cause swelling in the area, flat feet or fallen arches, or a structure like a swollen tendon or enlarged vein pressing against the nerve.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome can cause not only numbness and a tingling or burning sensation but also sharp, shooting pain. It can be diagnosed with a physical exam and imaging, and both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options are available, depending on its severity.
9. Shoe Problems
Sometimes simply wearing shoes that are too tight can cause or significantly contribute to numbness in your feet.
In addition, “If somebody can’t feel their feet anymore, I tell them all the time to be careful what shoes they wear,” Nealon notes. She recommends looking for shoes that provide good support but aren’t too heavy, without any constricted areas and with enough extra room for any brace that you wear.
10. Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Its early symptoms typically include muscle weakness and tingling sensations in the legs, which progress to weakness and abnormal sensations in the arms and upper body.
In some people, it may also cause pricking or tingling sensations in the feet in its early stages.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare and often develops following a bacterial or viral infection, although its cause is unknown. Doctors use a combination of medical history and a variety of neurological tests to diagnose it.
11. Stroke
In some cases, sudden numbness in one arm, leg, or foot is a symptom of a stroke. It may be accompanied by other stroke symptoms, including trouble speaking or understanding; paralysis of the face, arm, or leg; trouble seeing; headache; and trouble walking.
Stroke is a medical emergency, so if you think you may be having one, seek help immediately.
Last Updated:8/21/2017
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
SPC Virginia Morgan always do your due diligence read, read,read. Webmd.com and have very clear discussion with your care providers when making medical treatment decisions.
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PO3 Phyllis Maynard
http://www.webmd.com visit this site often SPC Virginia Morgan
WebMD - Better information. Better health.
The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert commentary, and medical review.
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SPC Virginia Morgan
Thank You, I have been researching and getting copies of my tests. It is a process
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SPC Virginia Morgan
I wish I knew they never did a MRI to rule it out when I got out. I so wish they did.
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