would they find multiple sclerosis at the ER?

[looloo21]

I have been to the ER for chest pains, and random pains and numbness around my body. I was wondering if you went to the doctor and ER if they would know if i had MS just by doing blood work and things or would they need to do something different to know if i had that? Also i went to the eye doctor because my vision has gotten worse but he just thought it was my contacts, if you have optic nerve damage does your pupil constriction always not work or can you have optic nerve damage but your pupils are still working?

i want opinions.. thanks!

[halah29]

I was diagnosed in the ER.  They did an MRI because I thought I had a mini stroke..didn't last long.  The er doc came in and said I have several plaques in my brain and my actual neurologist was on call that night so he read the MRI .  Er doc said I need to follow up with that neuro so I did. Did the LP thing.  He said it is MS for sure.  But I still don't believe him.
I do take the copaxone,though!

Jen

[Shellinut]

I was diagnosed in the ER.  I was having problems and went to the ER twice in a week and nothing.  I was referred to a neuro and the soonst they could see me was 4-5 months so I called our local University ER and they told me to come in.  While I was in the MRI someone asked if I had ever been dx with MS and I said that was why I was there.  When I got done (after 5 hours of MRI) they admitted me for 3 days for IV steroids.  My first night they did an LP and confirmed the dx.  I think it all depends on the hospital.  Mine was a teaching hospital so I had a team of neuro residents right there with me everyday and one of them was the one that admitted me.  I currently see the neuro and resident that treated me in the hospital.

[addicted2harleys]

My experience was similar to Mike's.  I was in the ER for 13 hours.  They did the LP and MRI scans.  They did some other things, too, but in the end they came back and said I had possible MS and referred me to a neuro.  

But, I have yet to be diagnosed still.  It has been 6 years.  So, it can be a very complex disease to diagnose.

Addi

[Mike_Shuswap]

After spending all day in the ER, and after an ambulance ride to another town for a brain CT, the very caring ER doctor told me I had white matter disease, possibly MS.

She put in the paper work for an MRI, and refferred me to a local GP (my previous GP left town, so I was without a family dr at the time) before releasing me.

While the ER dr was not able to diagnose MS, her guess was correct. I was dx'd some 14 months later.

Having said that, I believe the correct answer to your question is no, you should not expect to get diagnosed with MS at the ER, mostly because MS is so difficult to dx.

Mike

[Sparkysarah]

Hi there

Sorry you are experiencing a lot of pains and feeling unwell at the moment. I suggestt ath you have a look at the health pages on this stie as t here are some excellent pages on diagnosis of MS.

Keep a detailed journal of all your symptoms and I would suggest that you try and get a referral to a neurologist asap.

With best wishes

Sarah

[mamiJ]

the ER only looks for life threatening issues (heart attack, blood clot, stroke, etc)

They could care less if you actually do have MS, or any other disease...as long as your life was not in immediate danger.  

LikeI had to explain to my mom before and heard from an irate nurse "the job of the ER is to stablize....that's it"

so, sorry to say, but no...it would be very rare for an ER visit to give you a dx.

I have not been diagnosed, but from my little experience and reading from people that have a lot of experience, it may take several dr visits and several tests.

keep a log or journal of your symtoms and follow them closely with your dr.

Hope you find something out soon