Have you ever heard...
 

of a neurologist who doesn't check Babinski reflexes?

I've been seeing an MS specialist (I'm undiagnosed) since Oct. 2006. In all of that time, she's only checked my Babinski reflexes one time. Her NP has never checked my Babinski reflexes. This reflex hasn't been checked in over a year, though my other reflexes have (and those have been abnormal too.)

Since I am undiagnosed, wouldn't it stand to reason that this would be important to the diagnostic procedure? When all of my weird symptoms started in May of 2006, the first neurologist (and the one I saw between that one and the MS specialist) checked my Babinski reflex and it was present in my right foot. A rheumatologist I saw over a year ago checked it too and again, it was present.

During my first appointment with the MS specialist, she did check, and it was present again in my left foot. However, she "lost" the dictation from my exam and had to recreate it, and in the record it states that I pulled my foot away when she tried to check my Babinski reflex (I did not.)

I'm guess I'm confused about this. Is the presence or absence of this reflex just not that important in diagnosing neurological problems?

Mine very rarely checks.

In fact, I think she checked on initial exam and that's it. You might want to do some research on it Lisa.

I thought you were told you didn't have MS. Am I mistaken? :confused:

I had them checked, and they were positive, when I was first diagnosed back in 1977.

None of the neuros I've seen since then have checked.

You have to remember that clinical signs were the only way that one could get a diagnosis of any kind in those days, and there have been so many developements since I was diagnosed way back then. MRI's had not been invented, and CSF testing had not reached the excellence that it has now.

These days such basic tests have been superceded I guess, with the myriad of tests provided by advancement in technology.

I may of course be wrong, but my thinking sounds pretty logical to me.

Hi Cheryl,

Even though my MRIs are still normal, both the MS specialist and my PCP strongly feel that I do have MS, especially since this last flare which has necessitated walking with a cane because of weakness and spasticity in my legs. They think it's just a matter of time until lesions show up. I guess we'll see.

Hugs,

Lisa

My neuro checked both my feet and it showed positive in my right foot. Ya know, I've often wondered, for as long as I can remember I've never stood flat footed....my big toe on both feet will flex upwards...could there be a connection? (Everyone teases me about it...calling me turtle toes cause they look like big turtle heads sticking up lol)

Thanks for the link, Cheryl.

I actually understand the Babinski reflex and what it indicates. I'm just rather baffled as to why my doctor doesn't check it during a neuro exam.

Thanks again and hugs,

Lisa

Both my feet check positive for that, so I'm guessing that's the reason my neuro stopped making it a part of my exam.

It's one of those strange tests that looking back, I've always had an issue with at least one of my feet being positive. Especially since my "unknown isolated neurological event" way back when I was 17.

Gotta love docs. :rolleyes:

My neuro who made the dx never checked it. The specialist did check it at our appt (but it was our only appt and only for a second opinion). My original neuro also did not need to do EVP, but the specialist did.

Each has their own protocol. In the scheme of MS, babinski does not say yes or no, and does not really fit into the criteria of diagnosis at all, because there are som many things that can cause it. Yes, others as well, but when you put the big diagnostics in line, they show yes or no (mri, LP, EVP, clinical criteria, and such). I am thinking babinski doesn't play much in diagnostics, and that is what they are worrying about right now.

Connie

No.

It may be an indicator of a problem, but it is not terribly relevant in the dx procedure for MS. What is important is a combination of factors, most importantly the MRI and LP results.

I only visit my neuro on an annual basis, and depending on what I wrote on my "update of new and/or improved symptoms", she checks accordingly. Sometimes that includes Babinski, and sometimes it doesn't.

Cherie