Abnormal SSEP (abnormal somatosensory evoked potential)

[oliviamarie12345]

I have chronic pain/tingling/prickling on the left side of my face, head and neck. I also have episodes where it hurts to lift my foot so I have to drag it when walking. I have an abnormal SSEP. (abnormal somatosensory evoked potential) Can you have an abnormal SSEP test and not have MS, or does having an abnormal SSEP test mean you probably have MS?

[oliviamarie12345]

thank you!

[sllowe]

Hi Olivia Marie,

Sho gave you such good solid information.  I'm just adding on a welcome and hello to you, and thank you for joining us....

[shoshin]

The SSEP measure the sensory signals in the nerves in both the peripheral and central nervous system, but is mostly used to look for problems in the central nervous system. One of those problems in the central nervous system can be MS, but the SSEP doesn't particularly say what the cause is.

The SSEP was the test that put me on the path to my dx of MS, but I had to have a lot of other stuff ruled out before they decided that's what it was. So it doesn' t mean you have MS, but it does mean they found a definite abnormality and that hopefully will give them some leads to pursue.

If you search this community (box about recent activity) for SSEP, you can find more info. Here's one post that might help:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/What-role-do-the-SSEP-and-BAER-Tests-have-in-diagnosing-MS/show/577325 (look for Quix's explanation in the middle somewhere).

So MS is definitely on the table, but you need to talk to your neuro about exactly what was abnormal and what else might be going on.

sho