Like so many, a new member here. I'm looking for feedback on what to do.
Just simply, my dear wife has been struggling with memory problems for past few years and with a family history of early onset Alzheimers (aunt at 45) and other memory tests, her dr finally ordered up a MRI for her. At her appt yesterday, he says he will refer her to a neur as it looks like it may be MS, but he is not the expert and would not diagnose it as such. He gave us a list of 3 local neurs for us to decide which one to go to and he would refer us to whichever one we wanted.
(She had a mri w/o contrast on her head. I do not have the report or films/cd of the test.)

I thought for convenience sake that I would go to the local neur first and then after that consult and possible dx, then go to the MS clinic for second opinion. (UCLA is closest) But my instinct says to just get to the MS clinic where the pros are.

The reason I think to go to local neur first is that they are 10 minutes away and not 3 hours. Also to get more of a specific expert opinion on what her MRI really shows. Then if it comes back in their opinion that it is MS then get to the clinic.

I have many more questions but just need your feedback on this. I plan to call her doctor today and have him refer her.

Bob

Welcome...sorry to hear of your wife's challenges.
Since the doc is unsure,I guess I would recommend going to a "regular" neuro. Also I'm surprised the MRI wasn't done with contrast...
If it is indeed MS, I would recommend a MS specialist.
Keep us up to date on what you find out

Hello again Bob. Yes a local Neuro would be good. If he had experiences with MS, even better. If it's something other than MS, the Neoro will run all the necessary test to rule out anything more serious.

Again welcome and Keep us posted.

Hi Bob and Welcome! I'm really sorry your wife is experiencing these symptoms and hope you both get some answers soon. The not knowing is worse than the "real thing". Personally I've always gone to a regular neuro, 36 years, so I agree that it's a good place to start. Please keep us posted and hang around for support and All the best.......................

sorry you are struggling.

Best advice is to go where the big boys are. they can tell a vit def from a lyme symptom and be able to separate it from an MS event. Once you have a diagnosis in hand, you can use the local guy so you dont have to travel all the time, and they are quite capable of doing follow ups. if you run into trouble or the disease goes crazy, you can always go back to see the big boys, but for most things the local guy can speak to the big boys on the phone.

Good luck, let us know.