10 Key Questions About Multiple Sclerosis
SOURCE:
www.HealthTalk.com
2. How Do I Know If I Have MS?
MS is difficult to diagnose – no single test detects the
disease. And symptoms are similar to those for many other
conditions and can vary from person to person. Some common
early symptoms are:
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Numbness or tingling, usually in an arm or leg
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Unexplained weakness, dizziness and fatigue
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Blurry vision, double vision or blindness
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Doctors use many tests to rule out conditions other than MS. Some of the most common include:
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Medical history and physical exam.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain or spine.
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Cerbrospinal fluid (CSF) collection.
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Evoked response tests (ERTS) to measure the speed of brain
connections
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Before diagnosing MS, doctors must make three findings:
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Patients must have at least two attacks of MS symptoms, each
lasting at least 24 hours and separated by at least one month.
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There must be no other explanation for the attacks.
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There must be signs of damage in more than one area of
the brain or spinal cord.
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Published on October 26, 2007
HealthTalk Medical Reference
Last updated and reviewed by
Ed Zimney, M.D. on January 13, 2008.
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