Best Tests for MS???

[DarthMom]

I am on the road to figuring out if I truly have MS... all my symptoms are suggestive. I have yet to have a brain MRI or a sprinal tap. But blood work for all others I have been ruled out for or is healthy normal and suggests I should be running marathons.

Can I get a list and a explination of what the test is of what the basic neuro will use to DX MS with a history as long as mine 12yrs and if you want to see mine please see my post you will see I have been through it all and tested for it all!

Basically endgame MRIs Spinal tap...???

[twopack]

Duh.  Here's the Health Page I mentioned.  Hope it helps.  Look at some of the others while you're there.  They have a lot of excellent information.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Common-Blood-Test-Youll-See-During-the-Diagnosis-Process/show/446?cid=36

Mary

[twopack]

You probably realize by now that there is no specific test to diagnose MS, or even to rule it out completely.  Sarah gave a good idea of the usual tests that are done.  All results need to be looked at as a whole alongside your history and the doc's physical exam.  

You will need a brain MRI at the least.  Despite McDonald criteria that allows for a clinical diagnosis and the growing knowledge about MRI limitations in showing MS lesions, it is very unusual to be diagnosed with MS these days unless you have a MRI with some evidence of damage.

I didn't look at your list, but here is a Health Page listing some of the blood work that is done to check for other causes of MS type symptoms.  You are correct that other causes are usually excluded before MS is considered.

The lumbar puncture (LP) or spinal tap is not the ultimate answer.  It is a result that (like everything else) must be weighed in with the whole picture.  Several members of this forum were diagnosed after a negative LP.  Some neuros will require a LP. Others no longer use them or use results to rule out other possibilities.

Good luck on your diagnostic journey.  Let us know where we can help.
Mary

[Sparkysarah]

Hi I just posted on your other message but yes if you have had all the blood tests done then the MRI of both brain and spine and lumbar puncture are used as diagnostic tools. Also visual evoked potential tests may be used also. Then the neuro will do a full neuro examination and will also be interested in your clinical history. I suggest that you try and do a concise timeline (look in the health pages for more info onhow to do this) showing dates and just factual details of what you have experienced over the years (without lots of fill in - e.g. just say extreme fatigue instead of saying well on this occasion i felt so overwhelmingly tired...)

Push to get your tests done soon and to be seen by an MS specialist asap.

Cheers for now
Sarah