Question from limbo land
 

Has anyone out there been diagnosed on the basis of symptoms and LP alone? My mri is clear, and my VEP is normal. I have not yet had an LP. My EMG is normal.

I'm very frustrated. . . so many symptoms, yet no direction.

Susie

Susie,
This is just a personal opinion, but I don't think LP is necessary or required to get an acceptable diagnosis for MS. I realize there is judgment involved. Here's an article you might find interesting if you haven't seen it already.

The Differential Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Let me know if this was helpful. Blessings,
Ken

Another question from limbo land
 

Another question, friends:

I'm wondering about Parkinson Disease. I have many involuntary contractions, but no pill-rolling tremor.

I guess if I have PD, all of the MS tests would be normal, right?

Thanks,

Susie

Did you have the LP and if so did it come up positive (o-bands)?

To answer your question - Yes.

I had a clinical diagnosis based on a positive LP (O-Bands), neuro exam and symptoms. Every other test I had came up negative even the MRI which was clear.

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)

I was diagnosed with a variety of tests (over many months) - blood, vision, hearing and several MRIs with and without contrast.

Because my first symptom was only vertigo, I was initially diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. It was only when I began to have other problems (I kept feeling as if I were wearing very heavy winter gloves) that the ENT recanted the diagnosis and sent me off to a neurologist.

I've never had an LP as the MRI results were positive.

I wish you well and that you'll get an answer soon.


Niko:cool:

No, I haven't had an LP yet.

I was diagnosed on symptoms alone and have never had a lumbar puncture. I did eventually get an MRI which confirmed the original diagnosis, but that wasn't for over 20 years.

I didnt have an LP. I was dx based on sx and my MRI and history, along with inflammtory markers in the blood work. They told me the LP normally only shows Obands during a period of flair, or mylin destruction. That to put me through that wasnt needed, unless i was mid flair.

I hope you find some answers soon. You sound frustrated. :hug:

Hi Susie,

I don't know enough about Parkinson's to know sorry.
Have you Googled the symptoms of PD?

All my MS tests have been clear so far too. I know, I start looking up other diseases as well!
A new chiro I've seen thinks it's just 'Adrenal Stress'. But then I found an article saying Adrenal Stress can be a symptom of MS!!

We have to have an open mind though - if all tests are clear so far, then the neuro's can only go by that at this point.

How long have you had symptoms for?
IF it's MS lesions can take a while to show.
But I can hear and feel your frustration. I'm in the same boat! :hug:

I had an LP after my MRI of the brain showed lesions. I also had Sensory Evoked Potentials, Vision Evoked Potentials after switching to an MS Specialist who wanted to confirm my diagnosis. I had an EMG too. I think with MS the EMG is usually normal. Mine was. Not to mention loads of blood tests.

You have to remember all the tests you have to have done do send your doctors in different directions because they rule things out. I know how frustrating and scary it is. Hang in there! We're here for you. :hug:

When I was first DX with MS, they didn't have MRIs yet so, yes I had a myleogram/LP that showed positive for protien and o-bands and I was then DX.

I'm familiar with PD symptoms. I have quite a bit of involuntary muscle movement sometimes rhythmic in occurrence, and my facial muscles (especially forehead and upper cheek area) are stiff essentially all of the time.

I've had symptoms since last summer; just visual at first with long breaks in between. The episodes of fatigue began last last fall again with breaks in between. In mid-April motor/sensory symptoms and the fatigue and the visual symptoms all become suddenly worse and have continued to worsen since that time.

Thanks,

Susie

I am 'clinically probable MS' due to the fact that I only have one lesion and positive LP and plenty of symptoms.

How often do you have MRIs to check for the presence of new lesions?

Susie

I think Kim's current doc is looking to do this annually, but there are potentially unique reasons for his thinking. One thing for sure, it's a big deal to have comps and to be able to compare them chronologically. I'd highly recommend, brain and spine. If you one day (and I hope you never need to) find your doctor wondering about that spinal MRI in 2009, you can say, "yup, you're in luck, I had one of those". just my opinion. Ken