Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder for which there is no cure to date. This disease is characterized by numbness or weakness throughout the body, vision problems, loss of balance and fatigue. Since there is no specific diagnostic protocol for this disease, a number of tests are usually run to rule out other causes of the patient's symptoms. These tests to determine the diagnosis of MS include blood tests, spinal taps and a diagnostic procedure known as a potency test. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis appears when no other physical disorders are found during the test process.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Looking for Symptoms
Step 1. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your current symptoms and a possible diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MP)
While it's perfectly fine to diagnose MS on your own, a detailed and difficult diagnosis makes it difficult for even a licensed professional to be certain.
Step 2. Look for early symptoms of MS
Most individuals with MS experience their initial symptoms between the ages of 20 and 40. If you notice any of the following symptoms, record them and give them to your doctor so they can be used to rule out other possible medical conditions:
- Blurred or double vision
- Clumsiness or coordination problems
- Thinking problem
- Lost balance
- Numbness or tingling
- Weak in hands and feet
Step 3. Recognize that MS symptoms manifest in different ways in different patients
No two cases of MS present with the same symptoms. At this point you may have:
- One symptom followed by a pause of months or even years before the symptom reappears or a new symptom appears.
- One or more symptoms that are very similar to one another, with the symptoms or many symptoms getting worse over weeks or months.
Step 4. Look for the most common MS symptoms
These symptoms are:
- Can feel pins and needles but also numbness, itching and burning or tingling all over the body. These symptoms occur in half of patients with MS.
- Problems with the intestines and bladder. These include constipation, frequent urination, sudden urge to urinate, problems emptying the bladder and the urge to pee at night.
- Muscle weakness or spasms make it difficult to walk. Other potential symptoms can make these symptoms worse.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness. Although vertigo is rare, it is common to feel light-headed and dizzy.
- About 80% of MS patients experience chronic fatigue. Even after a good night's sleep, many people with MS say they feel tired and drained. The fatigue associated with MS usually doesn't depend on the amount of physical activity or exercise you do.
- Sexual problems include vaginal dryness in women and difficulty getting an erection in men. Sexual problems can range from being less responsive to touch, low sex drive and difficulty reaching orgasm.
- Trouble speaking. This includes long pauses between words, slurred or intense nasal speech.
- Problems in thinking. Difficulty concentrating, memory problems and a low attention span are common.
- Shaking or tremors that make it difficult to perform some daily activities.
- Eye problems, usually only in one eye. For example, black dots or dots appear in the center of the eye, blurred or gray vision, pain or sometimes loss of vision.
Part 2 of 2: Completing the Diagnosis
Step 1. Plan for a blood test that brings the doctor closer to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. This happens by eliminating the possibility of other diseases that could potentially cause these symptoms. Inflammatory diseases, infections and chemical imbalances can all cause the same symptoms, and so are considered a warning sign, even though they are not. However, many of these disorders can be effectively cured with medication and other treatments.
Step 2. Schedule a spinal tap with your doctor
Although spinal taps, lumbar punctures are generally painful, this is an important step in the diagnosis of MS. This test involves taking a small sample of fluid from the spinal canal for laboratory analysis. Spinal taps are a component for diagnosing MS because the fluid can show abnormalities in white blood cells or proteins that indicate a malfunction in the body's immune system and the presence of the disease. This test can also rule out other diseases and infections.
- Getting ready for a lumbar puncture:
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any medications or herbs that might thin your blood.
- Empty the bladder.
- Sign a consent form and possibly a medical test information form.
Step 3. Prepare to have an MRI test at a health care provider or local health care facility
This test, also known as magnetic resonance imaging, uses magnets, radio waves and a computer to create images of the brain and spinal cord. This test can aid in the diagnosis of MS because it often shows abnormalities or damage in these areas that indicate the presence of the disease.
The MRI test is considered to be one of the best tests used to diagnose MS at this time although it is not possible to diagnose MS using MRI alone. This is because patients can get normal MRI results but still have MS. On the other hand, elderly individuals in particular, have lesions on the brain that look like MS but are not actually MS
Step 4. Ask your doctor about a potential generator test
As doctors learn more about how to diagnose MS, this test provides additional information to obtain an accurate determination of the disease. This procedure is painless and involves using visual or electrical stimuli to measure the electrical signals your body sends to the brain. These tests can be done by your doctor but are usually sent to a neurologist for interpretation.
Step 5. Make a follow-up appointment with your doctor after all tests are completed to determine if a definite MS diagnosis can be made
If your doctor can determine how to diagnose MS based on these tests, you will move on to the treatment phase of the disease. This includes learning to manage symptoms effectively and slow the progression of the disease.
