Mylogram

[worknhrdplynhrd]

Will the mylogram help determine if I have MS or will it just help rule it out?  I do not see the neurologist until next Tuesday, February 17th.  Curious about the neck and shoulder pain I am having and how that relates to MS, along with this weirdly stiff, swollen right hand and arm...the doctor found two herniations in my neck, two bone spurs, and even a slight nerve impingement, but they do not think that is causing my symptoms...

By the way, I saw some earlier posts about correlating women with hysterectomy and MS...I had a hysterectomy due to fibroids and mild endometriosis about three years ago...total and complete hysterectomy...

[slightlybroken]

Sorry I misread.

Bio is right...Myelograms is not commonly used anymore to look for MS plaques since MRIs are around. Your doctors might be looking for something else. According to what I read, they did use them at one time but not anymore. I just figured that maybe your doctors might be looking for some things like Bio explained and maybe if something else popped up..who knows?

That's what I get for trusting wiki....

[biowham]

To answer your question more directly: rather than helping to rule out MS, it will help rule in or out explanations for your symptoms that are alternatives to MS.

Bio

[biowham]

Hi, worknhrdplynhrd:

I had a CT myelogram. It visualizes the CSF flow from the spine to the nerve roots. Anywhere a root is blocked, you've got a "pinched" nerve that might explain symptoms. If everything is flowing freely, then you don't have that (radiculopathy) as an explanation for your problems, although there could be some postural scenarios that cause a transient interference.

It would also show any tumors or stenosis (narrowing) of the canal or vascular problems. But it would not "show" anything about MS.

Biowaddles

[slightlybroken]

Hi,

The Myelogram works the same way as the MRI machine...it will show if there is any defects, lesions, or problems in the spine. As with any test, it will help determine if you have MS. There is no test that rules out MS because there is no specific test for MS.

It's a clinically DX disease..meaning..the doctors take a good history from you (your symptoms..how they act, how long they last etc...), then they need to find abnormalities on exam (clinical lesions), then they need to find supporting proof (lesions on MRI, abnormal VEP,SSEP,BAER, LP)...or in you case a MS plaque on the myelogram.

I hope everything goes good with your test next week and you get some answers to what is going on. Take care.

Hope This Helps