I was diagnosed based mostly on symptoms and an MRI. I never had an LP.

My first MRI (of the brain) didnt show anything other than some non-specific white spots that they told me were normal.

Four months later, I had burning feet, so my regular doctor ordered a spinal MRI because I had back pain. He was looking to see if I had a slipped disc or something. Since there was a question about MS, he also ordered some contrast for the MRI. They screwed up the contrast on the first MRI, so I had a 2nd one.

That's when they found 2 lesions in my spine. I got my diagnosis a couple weeks later.

My neuro and my regular doctor both never felt the need to subject me to an LP. My neuro was able to diagnose me on symptoms and the one MRI findings alone. It took 4 months for me to get diagnosed. I'm glad I wasnt limbolanded for any longer than that.

I've never had any other tests for MS (like a VEP) I had tons of blood tests tho to look for other causes of the symptoms. Those all came back normal.

I think it's just in the last year that the neuro started to notice problems with me when he'd give me a neuro exam. I had mostly normal neuro exams when he diagnosed me. (didnt fall over during the "close your eyes with your feet together" test like I do now)