How do you know if your dr is an MS Specialist?

[luverofrogs]

Do dr's just call themselves MS specialists or is there some kind of official sign that a dr is an MS specialist?

[Quixotic1]

To my knowledge, MS is not a field that even has "optional" certicfication.  It would be preferable to see someone with advanced training in MS, but I'm not even sure how common those fellowships are.

The Consortium of MS Centers does offer a type of certification by test.  They publish the Dr.s who who chosen voluntarily to take this test and passed it.  For the number of neurologists in the world, the number on their list is small.  It's always worth checking.

As far as the list given out by the MS Society, the doctors themselves volunteer that they are "Specialists" from what I was told.  My former "evil" neuro was on the NMSS list and advertised that MS was a specialty.  He told me I was too old to get MS and he misread my MRI, and he didn't do the workup for MS that he should have, given my history and exam.

My current neuro is in a member clinic of the Consortium.

Quix

[sllowe]

   HI there,

This is a list of members who are a part of the Consortium of MS Centers.  With your Neuro, you may have to come out and ask.  I know what you mean by the website and having it listed as a specialty, but then their education doesn't spell any additional education in MS.  I find a lot of that in my digging as well.  It's a pain.  But, the MS Clinic Docs I've found online do seem to list the various things they have been involved in whether that is research, projects, trials, etc.

At least your doc has it listed, think that is a good sign - I hope

http://www.mscare.org/cmsc/index.php

SL

[luverofrogs]

Thank you:o).  My new neuro has MS listed as a speciality on the website, but his educational listings don't say anything special about MS.  That's why I was asking.  He does have special training in neuroradiology listed, but nothing specific about MS.

[doublevision1]

My neuro completed a 2 year clinical fellowship in MS following completion of his neurology residency.  Several other MS specialists in Canada whom I've researched have done the same.  However I'm not clear whether this path is mandatory in order to warrant the title of MS specialist.

If in doubt, I would ask about their educational credentials and look for specific training in MS.

I do believe this is a better way to go than with a general neurologist.

db