MS Diagnosis without O Bands or Lesions

[maybems]

Does anyone else have MS dx without O Bands or Lesions?

[bbassel]

My evokked potential tests came back normal and I never had a LP. I was diagnosed fairly quickly. 'new something was really wwroung mid Jan and was officially diagnosed on march 15. I had lesions on my brain and spine in MRI. I was able to be diagnosed quickly because I had extreme back pain that started about three years prior. At the time they did every test except an MRI even though I asked for one on three different occasions. Doctor insisted it was muscular and that was it. Anyway because of that and my MRI's it was fairly quick and quite a shock.

[HVAC]

Optic Neuritis usually leads to a MS diagnosis.

Alex

[darkdaysms]

did you test negi for Lyme? how many times did you have the Lyme titters tests done?

[darkdaysms]

if your only dx is ON, it could be your dx is CIS.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/Clinically-Isolated-Syndrome-(CIS)

one bout of ON is not going to get an ms dx. you have to met the McDonald standards, with or without lesions and o bands. granted ON is a lesion, its not enough. Once you have been dx with ON and been treated by iv steroids, you have a greater chance of developing MS. If you have more than one bout of ON, you are no longer CIS and though, still not MS, youre chances of developing MS are about 30% I believe they say.

I hope you don't have this monster. good luck!

[darkdaysms]

my 11yo son got a MS dx in May without lesions or o bands in csf.

[karryon55]

Just because "I personally" haven't heard of someone being dx with MS without any lesions in this day and age of stronger MRI doesn't mean it's not possible. I do believe it is possible especially if you were previously actually dx with Optic Neuritis and have since had clinical evidence of another attack on your CNS somewhere.

If you are feeling uneasy with what the doctors are saying then it's important to get another opinion for your piece of mind. You could also request some further tests like evoked potentials to give you piece of mind. So have you been formally dx with MS or something like CIS (Clinically isolated syndrome)? What are their recommendations on DMD?  

I know when I was dx it came as a shock and total relief to be honest. The community here have helped me a lot since my dx just over a year ago and has a lot of knowledge to offer and hopefully you will have the same experience.

Take Care,

Karry.

[maybems]

The dx is based on optic nerve damage from optic neuropathy, reflex response I think.  Honestly, it feels like a roller coaster.  Both the neuro who is an MS Fellow and the Opti Neuro seem confident in the dx based on - what - I'm not entirely sure.  I keep thinking that for as long as this has been going on - it must be slow in me?  While on the one hand, it is somewhat of a relief to have a reason for the increase in diminishment of some things, it seems odd - improbable - that I might be one of the minority 5% I've read about.

[karryon55]

I personally have not heard of anyone diagnosed with MS with no lesions on MRI in this day and age. I thought the McDonald criteria stipulated DIS (dissemination in space) and DIT (dissemination in time) which the lesions show in 4 specific areas.

I read your previous post and you have been having symptoms for quite some time which would make it even more unlikely to not have had any lesions show up after all that time. I personally would want a second opinion if I had been dx with MS without any diagnostic evidence pointing toward MS. Did you have any abnormalities on your clinical exam?

I would have thought you would have had evoked potentials, EMG, NCS etc before a dx could be made but I'm not a doctor rather a person living with MS. It's a difficult question to answer without knowing the complete picture and what your clinical exam brought forth. Sorry I'm not much help.

Karry.

[HVAC]

First of all before MRIs doctors had to diagnose MS with neurological exams and symptoms, and there knowledge. Some doctors do not use LPs in the diagnosing process. MRIs do not take picture of your brain they are more abstract. They can miss lesions. Also at the beginning of MS lesions can heal and go away. If you are diagnosed and think it may be a mistake you can get a second opinion. You have to go with your gut. I knew I had MS before diagnosis. The lesions on my first MRI and had four more with classic MS lesions called dawson's fingers. I had classic symptoms and abnormal reflexes, etc. For two years neurologist all said you will be diagnosed with MS but no one would diagnose me until I had 12 o-bands.

There is a natural denial when you are diagnosed so I did get another opinion. He said yep you have MS.

Alex