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MS Fact
MS is more common in Caucasians and people of Northern European descent, but people from all backgrounds can be diagnosed with MS.
MS diagnosis
Why did it take so long to get diagnosed?
It may take your health care professional some time to provide you with a definitive multiple sclerosis diagnosis. MS is known as a "diagnosis of exclusion" because MS Symptoms can seem like symptoms of other diseases. As a result, MS is usually diagnosed only after a health care professional has thoroughly tested for other medical conditions and diseases. There is no single test or symptom that can determine whether a person has MS.
Your health care professional may be able to make a MS diagnosis based on different findings, such as:
- Your complete health history
- Symptoms that occur at different times and last for at least 24 hours in the absence of a fever
- Signs of damage in different areas of the CNS
- Testing for balance, reflexes, coordination, vision and areas of numbness
- Spinal fluid test
- An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) test to check for the presence of lesions in the brain and spinal cord
There is no single test or symptom that can determine whether a person has MS.
Have questions or concerns?
Call MS LifeLines at 1-877-447-3243 anytime, day or night. A live representative will always answer your call.
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