Is MRI really effective in diagnosing MS?

[viper498]

Very interesting information. See link. I would consider this to be very important.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/M ... is/tb/2929[/url]

[viper498]

A statement on that site that caught my eye: "not all patients who experience a single attack will go on to develop the disease". Is there data to back that up? How many don't convert? I've had a CIS, what are my chances of not developing MS, statistically?

[lyndacarol]

I don't know any statistics on the subject, but I know personally of one case: A friend from high school days (now in Wisconsin) got a diagnosis of MS the same year I did (1992). She saw a Boston doctor to confirm it. His advice? "Live as though you don't have it!" She never had another exacerbation and her Christmas card this year said that she feels "as strong as a horse."

With your history and a good diet and lifestyle, I would think your chances were as good!

[oreo]

I was briefly hospitalized when I was 20. Recovered but never received a difinitive diagnosis of anything. Encephalytis was strongly suspected.

At the age of 50, after a number of different minor issues over a 3 - 4 year period MRI was used to confirm active MS.

Neuro believes that incident at age 20 was in fact the onset attack of MS. Followed by almost 30 years of dormancy. I'm kind of glad they didn't have MRI way back then. Could have put a big damper on what was 30 pretty good years.

[viper498]

Exactly. I would have rather not known, unless it became a constant problem.