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a quote from a PCP

Craig went to his PCP today.  He noted Craig's spasticity, and looked again at his legs, and said something pretty funny.

His comment was "you know, if it looks like a zebra, walks like a zebra, and acts like a zebra, eventually a neurologist is going to have to call it a zebra".  He was referring to Craig not having a MS diagnosis yet.

So for all of you in limboland, eventually someone is going to have to call it MS!!!!

Elaine
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338489 tn?1215558109
Elaine,
I've noticed that some of the "newer" doctors are much more interested and compassionate, as well as on the ball.  My son's doc at U of MI is a 55 year old woman who went to med school after her kids grew up.  She is super alert, interested and efficient.  You may have finally found the right guy.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
He said that looking at Craig's brain  MRI reports, the spasticity in his legs, and the weakness, he said that with four normal EMG's and all of the progressive symptoms, it almost has to be MS.

He sees no point in counting lesions etc because he thinks that sometimes doctors have to recognize what it is and let the patient get on with his life and be able to make decisions about the rest of his life.  

I am surprised because he is a young doctor.  But he feels very bad for Craig and thinks he has been strung along too long.
So Craig gets an EEG this week and back to M. next week.

Elaine
Helpful - 0
195469 tn?1388322888
I hope this is the start of someone finally saying, "Hey Craig, this is MS and we want to get you started on one of the DMD's as soon as possible.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

And praying,
Heather
Helpful - 0
378497 tn?1232143585
I wonder if he's thinking of an old sort of "parable" about doctors being able to recognize something as obvious as a "zebra" when they see one, rather than contorting around their thought processes to make it into a horse. I think I read that little story in relation to conversion disorder, but it applies in general. Sure, horses are more common around here, but that doesn't mean you have to make something that's obviously a zebra into one.
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