RE: Dx means a month apart - by the book

[Guest guest]

Below is pasted pretty much what the neuro said to me (almost verbatim), so when

I stumbled across it on the web, I copied it (I guess he sees " separate and

distinct time periods " to equal one month apart). The craziest part is that my

" diary " clearly shows that over a six month period, I had: knee buckling for a

week; hip movement loss for two days; blurred vision at three different times

(more than a month apart); numb/tingling left side of face; spasms in one foot;

a wrecked truck cuz my foot was numb and I couldn't tell that I hit the gas

instead of the brake; and the recent multi tingles all over (a short circuit

caused by the lesions). But, only one of these instances has been " clinically "

recorded/documented:

DIAGNOSING MS

The Neurologist requires clinical evidence that your Neurological deficits,

indicate involvement of at least TWO different areas (Functional Systems) of the

CNS, with documented Neurological Signs occurring at TWO separate and distinct

time periods; and ALL other possible Neurologic causes must have been

eliminated. ( " Poser Criteria " )

1 - Poser, C.M.; Paty, D.W.; Mc, W.I.; Scheinberg, L.; Ebers. G.C.; eds.

" The Diagnosis Of Multiple Sclerosis " New York: Thieme-Stratton Inc.; 1984

2 - Poser CM, Paty DW, Scheinberg L, et al.

" New Diagnostic Criteria For Multiple Sclerosis: Guidelines For Research

Protocols "

Ann Neurol 1983;13:227-231

Multiple Sclerosis is essentially a clinically determined diagnosis of

exclusion. There are NO tests which are specific for MS, and NO single test is

100% conclusive. Conventional MRIs only image some lesions (Macroscopic ones),

which are NonSpecific as to cause and

do

NOT fully account for MS.

Therefore, several tests and procedures are needed to eliminate ALL other

possible causes and firmly establish a diagnosis of MS. They include the

following:

• Diagnostic Categories

• Medical History

• Neurological Examination

• Evoked Potentials

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)

I now fully understand the frustration with the medical world when it relates to

MS!

Trisha

Re: Spinal tap

>

>

> Trisha,

> The spinal tap is NOT conclusive, it is merely a guideline... Don't

> have it

> done.

> Regards,

> Tom Bayuk

>

> Spinal tap

>

>

> I'm trying to determine if it would be beneficial to undergo a spinal tap,

> so I'm looking for feedback from the experts.

>

> I have demyelinated lesions of the central nervous system and labs show

> nothing to explain them. I have extremely mild symptoms, with no damage to

> the peripheral nerves. I'm 44 years old, and living in a 120 year old two

> story home. I work full time - office work, so easy on the body.

>

> Is it in my best interests to rule in/rule out MS at this stage so that I

> can plan for the future? Is the potential for side effects worth it, or

> should I just figure that time marches on and the best thing any of us can

> do is ready our homes for potential handicaps as we age?

>

> (I think I answered my question here

>

> Thanks!

> Trisha

>

> PS -- I hope that you are all safe and sound and warm and dry with these

> winter storms - and for those who are not, I hope it's of extremely short

> duration!

>

>

>

>

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