Is MS Passed Down To Children?

MS is not hereditary as in carried on a gene...or in the DNA. However, it does seem that sometimes, like allergies or asthma - if your parent has it you may have a propensity - more of a liklihood - to have it too.

Encouragingly, there does seem to be far more cases of just ONE person in a family having MS. More than one in a family does happen - but does seem to be the exception. But, it does happen.

I have MS, and have had it for 40 years. My children (in the mid 30's) are healthy. They have wondered about the possibility of having MS, and even had their suspicions...but all unfounded.

No one in my family tree is known to have had MS, and no one in any extended branches has either. Just me. And this seems ti be generally true.

So, please, relax, and worry less. Every moment spent wondering what might be...are moments wasted that could be filled with joy!

Hi Jenn82! I hope your dad is doing well. I too have MS. I have no family history of MS. I do, however, have autoimmune responses within the family, including thyroid problems and diabetes. These autoimmune responses seem to have some relation to one another and generally occur in the presence of one another. Current research shows that children of men who have MS are generally more likely to be affected, needing only an environmental factor to put the MS into action, if you will. The possibility of one being affected by MS when one parent has it is 4% compared to .1% when neither parent is affected. I learned I had "Possible MS" when I suffered a scotoma (loss of my central vision in one eye) in 1988 when I was 27 and my baby was just 2-1/2 years old. There were no treatments available at that time. It was very frightening for me, but I was young and told the doctor that I just didn't have the time for such nonsense! I asked what the worst possible prognosis was, said thank you and left the office. I then lived a very full 18 years -- full- and part-time jobs, a growing child, being both a Brownie and a Girl Scout leader, Secretary and President of the P.T.A. -- I NEVER stopped. Then one day, BAM!! I started losing my balance and began falling a lot and then I lost control of my left leg and ended up in the hospital for a week; that was February 27, 2006. As I write this I am in the midst of another attack, and while this is not fun, I am VERY grateful since my disability could be much worse! I do have some cognitive issues, am quite fatigued most of the time and can no longer work. I can no longer go for walks with my husband without tipping over either! LOL, but this is where I'm supposed to be right now; I know God has a plan for me and that I am here at this particular place right now so I can teach others something. I don't know who or what yet, but when I figure it out I'll be sure to let you know!!! LOL! Right now I would like to thank each of you reading this today very much for allowing me to share part of my story with you. Thanks so very much for "listening" to me today and may God continue to bless you all!

You probably posted this a long time ago but I'm going to reply-post to it anyway.
My Mom has MS, and has since about 1997 I believe.  She began tripping very easily and we realized that her foot was dragging when she walked.  After all the tests she was diagnosed with MS.  It has been so challenging for her, and also for us as a family.  It's hard to be a kid/teenager and have a parent with MS.  Being stubborn and yes, a bit  selfish, I found it difficult and quite inconvenient to always be around to help, to do extra housework, and to just have the want to be helpful.  Looking back now, I wish I had been more helpful and understanding.  I'm only 19 now, but being out of the house and away at school, it makes me sad to think about the way I acted sometimes.  My mom and I still butt heads once in a while and I do still get frustrated when she asks me to do things for her when I just want to relax and visit, but I try to step back and put myself in her shoes.  It takes her at least  twice as long to do simple things, and it wears her out twice as much.  It's the least I can do to run a few errands,  carry things up the stairs for her, clean the house, etc.

Anyway back to what you posted about.  I also worry that I might be susceptible to MS.  I try not to worry about it and I try to remember that the chances of me getting it is very low.  However, it is possible.  And it would be stupid to not be aware if I start beginning to see symptoms. 
I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and maybe I'm just paranoid (which is most likely the case) I'm afraid that I am experiencing symptoms.  They are different that my moms initial symptoms but I have created a list to keep track.  I don't plan on running to the doctor anytime soon, but I just want to be careful and attentive to my health.

Here is my list so far

*Pain in my hands (specifically my thumbs)
*Slight to moderate loss of balance at times
*Delayed vision (sometimes if an object is moving slowly and my eyes are not focused on it, it appears to have a trail.  Kind of like moving the computer's mouse quickly over a black screen.  You can see a trail of white.  It's kind of like that.  I never noticed it until recently)
*Spells of lightheadedness/ Nausea
*Sometimes I experience poor speech.  I try to say something, and it's like jibber jabber comes out and I have to slowly repeat what I was  trying to say.  It is frustrating and kind of embarrassing because I have always excelled in all English courses.  It's not like I don't know how to form a sentence!
*Muscle twitches (I think this is common  though)
*Knee pains.  I was a runner in high school, which could be a reason for this.
*Random pain in different parts of the body that may last for a couple days or a few minutes

Like I said, I could just be fishing for things wrong with me because I'm afraid.  But I'd rather be safe than sorry later down the road.

less than 1% chance that MS is inherited. It is more likely to come from bacterial or viral hosts.