Multiple Sclerosis (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 and criteria, 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
Once you've been diagnosed with relapsing MS, you may want to address some questions and concerns with your health care provider. MS LifeLines offers My Conversation Starter, a resource featuring two guides that may help you.
Resources that can help
Once you've been diagnosed with relapsing MS, you may want to address some questions and concerns with your health care provider. MS LifeLines offers My Conversation Starter, a resource featuring two guides that may help you:
- Discuss your symptoms. Keep track of your symptoms—what you're feeling and when it occurs—using the Symptom Guide. Create a report that you can take with you to your next appointment.
- Discuss your therapy needs. Enhance your conversation with your health care provider about the disease-modifying therapy that's right for you using the Treatment Guide. The Treatment Guide helps you identify preferences with your relapsing MS treatment routine, including dosing, administration and product features, and allows you to create a report that you can take with you to your next appointment.
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Have questions or concerns?
Call MS LifeLines at 1-877-447-3243 anytime, day or night. A live representative will always answer your call.
