Malpractice in diagnosing MS

[coco31]

Hi all and once again thankyou for all of your help and answers. I have yet another questions which is a bit tricky and I'm probably only asking it tonight because I am ANGRY with MS and the fact that it was not detected earlier.

Jan 2007: Emergency Surgery (laminectomy and decompression for large herniated L5-S1 disc herniation) Cauda equine syndrome after my fabulous great dane took a run and jump for me playing!!! ha ha

Nov 2007: A&E dept: Left sided weakness, urinary incontinence and extreame fatigue: Repeat MRI lumbar spine: Small but insignificant disc protrusion L4-L5 and some adhesions on previous L5-S1 (Nil significant). Sent home on diffene.

April 2008: Again left sided weakness, pins & needles, low reflexes on left side, extreame fatigue. Repeat MRI unchanged from previous. Sent home on diffene (which didn't work)

Feb 2009: Symptoms and MRI: See April 2008

June 2009:
In 1 week I went to my GP 3 times in 7 days, sudden loss of vision, mirgraine referred to a&e twice that same week and sent home with migraine. Unresolved migraine increased: Sent to a&e again that week (3rd time) with left sided weakness, sensory deficit, intention tremour, optic neuritis right eye. MRI Brain: Multiple lesions at least (9) consistent with demylination.

July 2009: Sudden blurring of vision left eye. Went to GP. Highly improbable relapse sent home. 3 days later opthalmology reveiw: confirmed optic neuritis left eye. (2 seperate relapses in 6 weeks).


I feel so let down but the medical system and wonder if there was anyway my MS would be less advanced with out doctors MRI'ing lumbar spine everytime I had a valid complaint? Has this happened to anyone else and is it not some form of malpractice? Is there anything I can do or questions I should ask. I feel I need answers.

So angry...... But I've just finished a long shift at work and am exhausted - sorry,

Regards,
Sharon

[tarter]

This is a story I hear too often from other people with MS only this week I met some one who eleven years on has just got dx and now it is progresive.
It is a difficult condition I suppose for GPs and some Neuros to pick up.

The lady I met this week is going to consntrate on living and not worry about the future and her anger let go because it will make her condition worst.

Stay Positive and look after you tarter

[Quixotic1]

The reality is that the average time to diagnosis of MS after presenting with symptoms is over 4 years.  It can be very hard to diagnose.  

I'm not saying that the medical prof did not let you down, but the statistics on diagnosing it will go against someone claiming malpractice and the basis of failure to diagnose.  Your early symptoms were consistent with spinal lesions.

Jen is correct - repeated MRIs do not cause or accelerate lesions.

The frustration is very understandable.

I went two years without a diagnosis because my first, evil neuro told me I was too old for MS and my brain lesion was insgnificant.  He was not only an "MS Specialist" but had been voted "One of the Top 100 Doctors" in my city.

Hang in there.  

Quix

[coco31]

No i understand MRI did not cause progression I dont understand why an MRI brain was not performed......instead of MRI lumbar spine all the time. Despite MS symptoms and nil showing up on lumbar spine.

Thanks though

[HVAC]

Hang in there

Cheers,
Alex

[jensequitur]

If you're asking whether the MRIs caused disease progression - no.  MRIs do not cause lesion formation.  

To be honest, feel lucky you've been diagnosed - there are so many out there with positive MRIs and symptoms who haven't.

[coco31]

thanks alex,

I'm just so frustrated at why MRI lumber spines were being performed when clearly I had a family history of MS and symptoms......???? almost 3 years later I have so loads of large brain lesions! My life has changed so much. A night out on the town with friends means that I have to spend the day in bed resting in order to be able.

I'm 29 I have these disgusting bumps all over my body from copaxone (which I can live with) and my house has become full of medicines, needles and needle bins when all I ever had before for limsip for a cold.

I'm tired and mad - perhaps a good sleep and some rethinking will help. Thank you.

[HVAC]

I feel your frustration. Malpractice probably not. In the future Neurology will be a lot better. Now this is pretty typical.

I was told I probably had MS by 4 Neurologists looking at my first MRI in Fall 2007 but they did not treat it. All my tests for MS were positive MS for two years. All my tests for everything else were negative. I had a Neuro Opthamalogist say I had MS in January 2008. The one Neurologist left town  in 2007 and no one would do an LP for two years. The next Neurologist was only interested in headaches. The next Neurologist an MS Specialist said I had MS but not bad enough until April 2009 when he did an LP and my LP had 12 O-bands. So basically it was two years before I got a DMD and no other treatment.

My doctors tell me I have had it most of my life. In fact I did not know anything was wrong because I have had symptoms for so long.

There are people who wait many more years for a diagnosis than I. I know it is frustrating but this is not an easy diagnosis. There are over 800 Neurological disorders and 33 mimics to MS. It is not like diabetes where you get a blood test and an answer.

In the states the protocol until you are diagnosed is an MRI every six months. My MS Specialist only does an LP like in my case when he is not sure. Mine came back with lots of o-bands but some people have none.

The most important thing now is to educate yourself about MS, what kind you have and your treatment options. We have the Health pages and the MS Society is a good resource.

Cheers,
Alex