Welcome, Michelle. I'm so glad you are here..

I find it so very strange that your Neuro says that "MS is unlikely", in your case. Your Sister and an Aunt have MS and you have a lot of the MS symptoms.. I'd say your Neuro is in deniel..

It is not unusual for a clear MRI, in the beginning. Many here have had the same experience and yet subsiquently have been DXed with MS.

Is your Neuro a MS specialist? Ask your Neuro or PCP to, at least, treat your symptoms..(fatigue, burning pain, tingling...etc). There are some effective meds that may help you cope, while you are waiting for that next MRI.

Emotional fatigue is also a symptom of MS and can also be treated.

Stay with us and enjoy the support you will receive here. Don't let us oldsters forget what it's like to be a newby.

There are many here who had to wait quite a while for their dx. I agree with Sally in that your Neuro should consider MS since two close relatives have it.

I had symptoms for years but never paid much attention to them since they were so mild. It was probably my third episode that forced me to see a doctor to find out what was wrong. I had double vision and couldn't ignore that! I had numbness in both legs prior to that (a couple of years prior) but wrote it off as a pinched nerve after it resolved itself after a couple of months.

If your Neuro isn't an MS specialist it might be a good idea to find one - or go to your Aunt's or sister's if they're close enough. The sooner you have a dx the sooner you can begin treating the disease.

There's lots of us here to help you through the dx process. Sometimes it's lengthy....sometimes it's quick.

Yes, do not be afraid to keep trying different doctors if you need to. Keep looking till you feel you are being taken seriously, tested properly, and having your symptoms addressed as best you can.

There is often no way to rush a dx - ms or otherwise - but at least the doc can do all things possible to take care of you and keep the process rolling along.

Thanks for your posts.

My neuro is actually one of the best MS specialists - uh oh!
I asked my Doctor for a 2nd opinion - (in Aust we say 'GP' (General Practitioner. Is that the same as a 'PCP'?) and she wouldn't give me one, saying my neuro was a good one!!!

I don't really have a long-term GP that knows me really well. But it might be time to find another one!

I even called the MS Society and they told me my neuro was top on their list.

During my first exam she said, "yes I suspect demyelination/MS", then 2 days later the MRI was clear. During the 2nd exam 8 weeks later, she says "highly unlikely".
She has at least put me onto oral steroids. But they only take away the pins and needles, and increase the tiredness.

Anyway, I see her on Monday (2 more sleeps!) So I'll be giving her the Spanish Inquisition!

It's not really a fun merry-go-round to be on.