Normal MRI,...Evoked Potentials or LP ?

[mezzo1]

Hello .I've been worked up for the past 1 1/2 months for these problems :intermittent blurry vision left eye with eye pain,left leg weak,stiff and dragging , and urinary frequency of 20 to 40 times a day ( and 2 times a night )with sometimes urge incontinence and daily dribbling,,extreme fatigue and positive Romberg . Had a poor quality brain MRI that showed 2 tiny lesions and one UBO on right temporal lobe questioned for clinical correlation . Neuro -op exam could not explain eye problems and referred me to MS Center .MS Center does not want to repeat brain MRI right now but had cervical and thoracic spine MRI which MD questioned but head specialist thought normal .I am to see a neuro-urologist at the MS Center shortly and having evoked potentials tomorrow . Blood work ruled out other mimicking conditons (Sjogren's,lupus,lyme,thyroid,etc) .MD does not want to do LP because I have von Willebrands and does not feel it worth risk .They are telling me they won't have an answer for me till 12/21 unless the EP shows something they want to see me sooner for . Should I insist on LP? Should I insist they make a diagnosis and treat me with something ? I am in a decline and am physically disorganized .My readings tells me it is MS though the results of the evoked potentials could say differently .If not MS,what should I do .Thank you for your time .

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

I cannot give you a clinical diagnosis over the internet. To a certain extent you have to place some trust in the doctors you are seeing, they seem to be doing a fiarly extensive workup. An LP is not absolutely necessary for a diagnosis of MS - the diagnosis should be apparent other ways also if this is really the diagnosis. The neurologist has to weight up the chances of the LP showing something other than MS also. Hopefully they will make a diagnosis, but sometimes this takes time, and time itself may reveal the true nature of the disorder. MS centers are usually very good at telling MS from other disorders.

Good luck

[SickAndScared]

I am curious please explain what you mean by "evoked potentials"

thanks

[mezzo1]

Dear Sick and Scared
This site  explains evoked potentials:http://www.cinn.org/isc/tests/evokedpotentials.html

[mezzo1]

Dear Dr. CCF-Neuro

Thank you for your reassuring reply . I wanted to make sure my evaluation process is standard and that I will get diagnosed . My neuro-uro is in process of investigating neurogenic bladder as opposed to obstruction .It;s coming together .

Thank you again for your comments and time .