I have 9 in the noggin and 3 on the spine. It's not necessarily the amount of leisons, but where they are that are important. My neuro can pinpoint some of my symptoms by the location of the leisons.

I'm one of those people who had to have the LP during the DX process, recommended by the specialist on staff to try to speed it up. (good ol' McDonald's Critera). Unfortunately it was suspicious for MS, but not conclusive. It wasn't until the next change in my leison load on the MRI that they moved me from CIS to MS because it proved the differences in time and space.

I will admit the LP wasn't fun to have, but managed to avoid the headache that is possible by laying flat on my back for the day. If you do go for the test, try to get someone to drive you there and back to help.

I know this is a stressful time, and stress can do wonky things to symptoms sometimes. Be kind to yourself right now.

I too had no problems with the LP. In fact, the doc went in twice, once in the lumbar area, and when he couldn't get enough fluid, he went in the cervical area!

I felt better after the LP than I had in a long time. I joked with my DH that maybe I needed a spinal fluid letting every few years! Two (almost 3!) years ago my first ever MRI stated that I had lesions consistent with MS. So my PCP ordered the LP. He just said it confirmed what the MRI was saying. Many PCPs don't know any better, I guess!

But I had two different radiologists look at the MRI, the one that wrote the lesions looked consistent with MS, and the other one, a friend, said not necessarily so. It could be, but also may not be. Maybe he was just being nice and trying to help me not worry. He actually did my LP and I'd do another with him in an instant! He was that good and kind.