Diagonsis Issues

[Bee74]

I have had normal MRIs for 7 years and two abnormal vision evoked potentials tests.  I have numbness and tingling in the lower extremities and spasticity in the lower extremities.  I have suffered with various pain about the body due to this and other osteoarthritic problems that are "normal" for my age.  Fatigue and urinary problems were noted in the first few years but have improved with time and/or medication.  My neurologist does not want to diagnose MS but cannot account for why the vision evoked potential tests over a five year period were both abnormal.  ANy thoughts?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

You Neurologist is probably waiting for any MRI findings to appear to diagnose MS. Most neurologists do wait for the MRI based diagnosis. But MRI an be normal in some cases.

Visual evoked potentials classically show a delay (abnormal).

The important point is are you on MS medications ? Are other tests such as CSF examination done ?

Regards

[Bee74]

I am on Baclofen 30 mg a dayand also take Topamax 100 mg a day.  The lumbar puncture was normal but on the "high" normal side as I recall.  I have had a number of other tests done but the vision evoked tests were the only abnormal tests.  I have had some relief with the Baclofen, the the twitching has stopped (fascilation ?) and the fatigue has improved.  It's just frustrating not knowing what is actually wrong.