Diagnosing MS
Detecting Multiple Sclerosis can be difficult. It is often
- early symptoms are often so
- other diseases of the central
Imaging scans of the brain and spinal cord usually
Doctors look for two things
1. Signs of Nervous System Damage
Numbness or tingling of hands and feet, unexplained
2. Come-and-Go Pattern (relapses and
Symptoms of MS usually appear and disappear
EMAIL ME
© April 2003
several years from first symptoms to certain diagnosis,
because:
slight that the person doesn't
go to a doctor
nervous system have some of
the same warning signs as MS 
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
is currently the preferred method
of imaging the brain to detect the
presence of plaques
or scarring caused by MS.
It is better at detecting plaques
than CT scanning. Often brains that
appear to be normal on CT scans
will be shown to have plaques on MRI.
show characteristic changes, and electrical tests and
spinal fluid examination may give helpful information
before confirming MS
weakness or paralysis, etc., may occur. Two or more
parts of the central nervous system must be involved.
remissions)
unpredictably.
Dora MS Mistress