Hey there my friend. I had alot of the same symptoms that you just described, including the optic nueritis (it was very painful). Visual disturbances were minimal and included 'white out' in my peripheral vision.
I had a strange numb/tingling sensation that started in my legs and over a year or so crept its way up to my mid torso. Sensations in legs worsened when stretching my neck downward (chin to chest). I had no insurance at the time and was hoping it was a pinched nerve.
About two years later I finally saw a doctor who rather quickly read my symptoms as possibly being MS (ironically I was not having symproms at that particular time). Reffered to a neurologist, got an MRI (brain and spine with contrast and a dedicated MRI of the C spine) blood work, and spinal tap. Sure enough, three lesions on the C spine just below the brain.
I was on Copaxone within a month and have been taking it everyday (almost) since (3yrs). No relapses, no new lesions, no new symptoms, no loss of mobility or coordination.
I can't speak highly enough of Copaxone! Easy, almost painless injection, NO SIDE EFFECTS. Who wants to be made sick with interferon blockers and immuno-suppressants? F-that.
Stay positive my freind. And avoid the gloom and doom stories and gut wrenching personal accounts. My heart goes out to anyone devistated by this disease but as far as I've experienced, this is as good a time as any to have MS. Much better treatment and therapy and lots of promising research.
And lastly, keep yourself well rested and avoid unecessary emotional stress. You don't have to hide from life, but really try to avoid high levels of stress and turmoil. I honestly believe that plays a huge role in auto-immune disorders.
All the best and God bless!
