On what basis did your doc diagnose you?

[zoefromsussex]

Hi, I'm new on here & awaiting an appointment with a neurologist to discuss my test results. I was just wondering how you were all diagnosed; did you have to wait for two definite relapses or were you diagnosed on the basis of your mri & lumbar puncture results???
My mri shows multiple scattered lesions etc and the lumbar tested positive for o.bands. My presenting symptom was optic neuritis/pins & needles & numbness and I've had some very strange 'funny turns' which I can't really describe but I just become really dizzy & spaced out and feel like I'm going to collapse. Haven't had anything major for the past few wks, just the usual tingling hands & feet and my lips often go numb for short spells.
Does optic neuritis itself cause all the above or do you think this is definitely MS? I'm going crazy waiting for confirmation and am panicking about having to start the med's as I'm still b/feeding my 8 month old son and am paranoid about the dmd's as my dad of liver failure last year due to mexthatrate...

[daverestonvirginia]

One time numb feet and an MRI. I did not have a lumbar test, I am surprised they are still doing them?

[zoefromsussex]

I had an MRI & lumbar puncture on the same day at Akinson Morley/St George's. That was on the 20th Oct and I'm still waiting for a follow-up appointment with the neurologist! I've seen the MRI report (my gp showed me) and it says "several small areas of change were detected in both cerebral hemespheres within the white matter. This is suggestive of demyelination" It also mentions a high signal from the right optic nerve. The lumbar result detected oligiclonal bands in the spinal fluid.
Do you think they're just being extra cautious or something?

[oreo]

MRI + several years of clinical history. No lumbar puncture.

[zoefromsussex]

Oh had you had years of symptoms then? Wish I could have skipped the lumbar too! It was pretty painless but the after effects were horrific. I had a deathly headache but it also triggered other weird stuff such as a buzzing ear, noise distortion & tremors and I could barely walk as felt so wobbly and weak. Am back to normal now!

[Azaeleaprawn]

A whole lot of symptoms and 3 MRI's. No lumbar puncture - would have refused it if it had been suggested. The last neuro I saw gave his opinion that it was totally unnecessary procedure given the symptoms that I recited and the ones he witnessed.

[zoefromsussex]

Why unnecessary, just out of interest? Had you had years of symptom's?

[Azaeleaprawn]

Yes, I had years of symptoms mostly ignored by my GP or lately written off by her as "post menopausal".
So the brain MRI and my symptoms were a complete picture for the neuros. The last one I saw even said that the result of a lumbar puncture wouldn't make a difference to my diagnosis.

[Azaeleaprawn]

In fact over 25 years worth of symptoms now that I look back.

[zoefromsussex]

So I guess it came as a bit of a relief to finally get a diagnosis? When the docs first mentioned MS I was suprised because I hadn't realised optic neuritis was a symptom but looking back, I started getting some signs around 6 years ago. Once I was walking through town with my mum when my right leg & foot suddenly went to sleep and I've had tingling in my hands for so long I've almost forgotten its not normal!

[Azaeleaprawn]

Yes a bit of a reflief and vindication for my original self diagnosis.
But the grieving process for the loss of mobility that I'm experiencing is pretty heavy.
The big problem is when I was told that I didn't have MS & felt I was being blown off by my GP, I went into a deep depression and just gave up on
my physical fitness thereby losing a lot of muscle tone. So now I'm having to work like mad tp try to regain some of the mobility I had 3 years ago.
It's really hard, but I do the excercises that my physio gave me and try to spend an hour on my recumbent bike every day.
I so do not want to come to rely on a wheelchair and will work as hard as I can to remain walking.

[nenebird]

My neuro really couldn't detect any abnormality from my MRI's but he was not an MS specialist. I had a spinal tap and it was conclusive.

[deb3]

tingling feet and legs,possitve lumbar punture, and mri showed lesions on spine and in brain

[mssocietyfan]

permanent pins and needles,l,hermittes,leg spasms,3 mri scans and a lumber puncture.

[manindra]

on his judgement and MRIs