MS Specialist or Neurologist?

[TigerEyes19]

Howdy all!

I am new here, but not to MS. It has been in my life in some way for about 30 years now; i.e. friends, neighbors, mother... I have recently been diagnosed myself & had my first injection of Copaxone last night. The nurse teaching me the procedure, discussed with me my issues with finding a neurologist.

After being unable to understand the 1st one I was sent to, I found another one, 2 hours from home. I live in the sticks, so if I need anything BIG, I have to travel to the city. I was not very impressed with this 2nd neurologist, but I thought maybe I was just being "picky" now. My 16-year-old went with me to my appointment & later pointed out that the doc didn't seem very interested in taking on another MS patient. So, it was NOT my imagination!

Anyway, the nurse asked me if I had ever considered going to the MS Center, which is also in the city. It is a group of doctors/neurologists/specialists that only see patients with MS. Unlike other neurologists who see patients with Parkinson's, epilepsy, stroke, etc...

Does anyone have any advice or personal experience with this?

[MarkLavelle]

Welcome!

I started with a general neuro who was OK, but after getting a 2nd opinion (twice! he was eager to dx me ) from the Stanford U. MS clinic I switched to the neuro I saw there.

I like that they're up on of the latest research and I can call, email or see the NP between appointments and get a quick response. The neuro is a really positive guy who answers all my questions, and we both happen to have daughters going to the same U.

Which city are you near, and what's the name of the center?

[TigerEyes19]

I am in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City is the "city" of which I am referring to. It is called the MS Center of Excellence.

Stanford University?!!! Wow, I am from the East Bay, Concord...born & raised there. How cool!

[MarkLavelle]

Yep! That's the kind of place you want to check out: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapte ... index.aspx
Maybe someone here already goes there?

I've been in the SF Bay area since '84 (San Mateo since '93), and I consider myself very fortunate. Stanford is 25 minutes away & gets to take care of my brain/CNS, and UCSF (40 mins.) gets to do my back surgery (I have a great physiatrist for the non-surgical back stuff)...