Hello, I just joined here & it seems for the same reasons you are here too, how to get dx of MS. I am 150%+ possitive I have it bc of my symptoms that I had way before I ever knew what MS was. Also, I've had 2 spinal taps, 1 was done sitting on edge of a gourney & the 2nd was via live Xray. Definately ask for the live Xray if you have a choice but either way the other wasn't so bad & it is necessary for the dx process. If you notice my profile pic there is a crack in my brain & I wish I could load more pics bc it goes thru MANY layers of the MRI. Also I have Numerous White Spots to Grey shapes in my MRI pics as well as some LARGE Black Holes in my Brain-so I really wish I could add more images-I may change them from time to time. Since your dad has MS you at least have family medical history-I have no family medical history so even with the HIGH Protien in my S.T. & all those things on my MRI images of my brain I still am undiagnosed. I wish I could help you bc I know just how very frustrating it is to get the help we need when we feel so horrible. Good luck to you-I will be praying for you-that you don't have it bc it is so horrible as you probably already know bc your dad has it. It is good you are checking it early bc early detection and dx helps. I am ashamed to say I had no idea abt MS and how much suffering it causes before I got it-Now I get it! I Wish you well!

Hello MS Diagnosed and Welcome to NeuroTalk

A Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) is not always necessary for a MS diagnosis. There are those who have a MS diagnosis and either didn't have a Lumbar Puncture or the result for it was negative. The LP can be used to indicate other conditions as well as MS.

Information about the LP:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/003428.htm

In the case of MS a positive LP would show Oligoclonal Banding (O-Bands) in the spinal fluid.

Information on Oligoclonal Banding:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/003631.htm

I am not sure why you have had 2 LPs. If there are o-bands there would be no reason to repeat a LP as once you have o-bands you will always have o-bands in the spinal fluid...to the best of my knowledge and per my neuro.

I would guess that the majority of us who have had a LP would not care to repeat it, myself included

I wish you all the best in the diagnositic process.

Welcome to NeuroTalk, Ms DX, nice to meet you. Come on in and join us..

Fantastic answers here! B-cells show up in the spinal tap. I did not have a spinal tap because I had lesions in my brain indicative of MS and my symptoms matched those of MS. Plus I was having different problems over a period of about 12 years. They would come and go and docs never knew what was wrong. I had a couple MRIs but they came out clear. I have a new Doc now who questions why I did not have a spinal tap and I told him...cause they got a diagnosis without it and I don't want one now!

Then all of a sudden one day the doc orders an MRI and it was not clear. I had 6 lesion. (thats where the term Multiple comes from in MS)
Its important at this time you write down a sort of history and time span of your symptoms. This will at least get them in your medical records.

I take Betaseron shots just below the skin with a tiny, short needle. It doesn't really hurt, but the reaction site turns purple and red and looks really nasty. I have not had any real sickness after the shot either. I understand your anxiety over this whole process, but please don't panic! If you have MS it may take a completely different course than your father's MS. Its impossible to judge MS by how someone else has it.