I woke up one morning with a numb, weak, tingling arm about 6 months ago and the doctor ordered an xray and nothing showed up and it was brushed off as a pinch nerve. I eventually grew back the strength in my arm only to lose all the strength in it again (left arm). From that time I ve had trouble swallowing and scents make the matter far worse. My whole body has had numbness, pain and burning pins and needles. I m slowly losing the sight in my left eye due to inflamed nerves behind my eye. I finally got in to see a neurologist and both the neurologist and eye surgeon think it is MS. However my mother has 2 vertebrae replaced in her neck due to a hereditary form of cervical stenosis. She is permanently disabled with a limp because it took long for her diagnoses. They think I m too young as I am 36. My mother is only 15 years older than I am and her surgery was a few years ago. I m waiting for an MRI because they don t think its an emergency. My question is: If it is in fact cervical stenosis and not MS will all of this waiting cause permanent damage? should I wait for the MRI that has the cost covered or take it upon myself to travel and pay for one in a private clinic?