New here with a few questions.

[carwhite17]

Hello all I am new to this board and I have a few questions. I haven't been dx with MS as of yet, but I just had a MRI that I will get the results back Wednesday. I have had many symptoms for many years: numbness in my lower limbs, migrains, vertigo, numbness in my finger and hands, speech difficulties, memory problems, bladder issues and many other things I'm forgeting. Now to my question I've had a spinal tap in the past but not to rule out MS just wondering would MS have shown up before or is it a certain test specific for MS? Any and all comments and information would be great. I really have been pretty down with this whole thing considering I've had symptoms with no answers for so long.

[carwhite17]

Thanks so much for responding. I had meningitits(SP?) when I was 11 years old and for whatever reason when I would get a really bad headache my doc would order the LP to check for meningitis again. I can remember having two LP that came up ok as far as meningitits goes. My current doc ordered lots of bloodwork a few weeks ago which all came back fine. So im waiting on the MRI report. I forgot to mention 4 years ago when I was 24 I had a hysterectomy and bladder sling put in due to prolapse of both the uterus and bladder. I continue to have bladder issues and ofter have to self cath. My doctor could offer no answer for the pelvic floor disfunction.

[sllowe]

Hi Carwhite,

Welcome.  No, there is no "single" test that provides diagnosis of MS.  But, there are a lot of labs to be run to rule out mimics of MS.  The Dr will run lots of bloodwork to do this, and he or she will also order MRIs of your brain and order other tests called evoked potentials. Our health pages describe the work up best if you have a chance to peek at them.

What was the LP run for in the past? How long ago was it? If they drew enough spinal fluid and stored it  - it could be tested for what the look for with MS.  Like Jens says though without knowing what they did in the past - hard telling if it will provide the Dr. what he is looking for. That is in our health pages too if you are interested - LPs and oligoclonal banding.

Welcome ! and thanks for joining!

[Sarahsmom46]

You would think that when a doctor orders and LP that he/she requests testing for all possibilities including MS if you symptoms can be even remotely suggestive of MS.  However, as Jerseq just mentioned, some tests that are part of an MS screeing on spinal fluid may not get put on the order. That actually happened to me last year when I had my first LP.  The neuor who ordered it didn't put the oligoclonal banding test or even the IgG index/synthesis (both typical MS screens) on the initial LP order.  Another neurologist who saw during that hospital stay noticed this and asked the lab to do additional testing.  

So, the answer is not necessarily.  Do you still have access to the doctor who did the LP?  If so, you can request a copy of the results and see for yourself.  I hope in your case that the doctor had enough foresight to do the tests.

Julie

[jensequitur]

A spinal tap won't always show evidence of MS.  There are many people here who were diagnosed with a negative spinal tap.  ... However, I don't know if the oligoclonal band thingie is something they do routinely - I suspect not, as the lab will charge you for each test they do.