MS Diagnosed?

" Hello I'm -- hour."

" And I any parent -- us and we're here to talk to you about various steps required in determining the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. "

" Multiple sclerosis is of the current difficult disease to act as -- yeah absolutely and it's really fraught with a lot of anxieties if you're listening to this tape."

" Some possession has either told you that you might have patents that you're likely to have them masks or rich you definitely have them -- And in the next few minutes we'd like to talk about some of -- and decision points that a physician uses it to antitrust. And that's a suspect. -- and a individual. -- and no logic symptom. That last more than 24 to 48 hours what can I met your logic some can be. While it usually has something marks one of the difficulty with vision particularly blurred vision."

" May be double what nation."

" Numbness usually involving a large part of your body why in both legs and arm and a leg."

" Difficulty with slurring your speech or difficulty with --"

" Nation and sent him know I think you've got most of them -- but I think that's one of the things that it is of particular problem not only for us in neurology. But for people facing a diagnosis of -- since the uncertainty and the multiple different kinds of symptoms. And ways that this these disease can present."

" It's certainly it it's I think it's important to recognize that and masses being considered on any -- in any one individual. They must have a fairly dramatic symptom that lasts for 24 to 48 hours. A little bit of numbness in your tongue -- that numbness and finger can we now have that and that does not mean and the us. But let's say you have bad and you see him the attention from the neurologist. What sort. Investigations. To some neurologists. War. -- will certainly it's going to take history and it will be very important for you to do. Go back in your life and try to identify any other episodes of neurological symptoms apology that you may hat back can be very helpful for his position."

" Absolutely Rick and I think one of the important things to do is that when you're sitting at home in thinking about your own history. It's easy to come up with us an idea here there. That one year in the doctor's office would facing their position and the nurse and any other of the some members of the health care team. It's a lot easier to have some notes written down about what you think some of the symptoms might be. And don't be afraid to write down things that you think will not be related at all that a family member may bring up team that you don't think are related. Use that information to work with your neurologist and a health care team to help make the study."

" No assets and it's very important to me I frequently if physician."

" I interaction has directed by the physician and expectation doesn't get enough time to speak about all their concerns."

" Identifying them had a time this is quite helpful. Your -- that's a complete history. Will fatten do a complete physical examination."

" And on the physical examination. On neurologist looks for any evidence of dysfunction. In the nervous system that can relate to -- can relate to motor functioning coordination fine motor movement. Balanced strength they can relate to sensation and and most neurologist look at. Particularly. A loss of the sense of feeling by operation or movement of the joint or you can pain and temperature."

" Also bladder and bowel issues are something that can happen early on and have masks and can be particularly."

" Troublesome for the patient may not particularly. Bring to the attention and that position."

" Great Rick and we can also see people who have problems with cognitive function. This isn't necessarily a major memory problem that it can be problems with. Find details problems and remembering. Multiple. Facts about a situation -- problems organizing our thoughts and our comments again an important reason to try to get as much done. Prepared for a had a time before you get to the."

" I'll just I'll just absolutely."

" And I sexual dysfunction also can be something that you need to talk to with your health care provider that you may not actually --"

" What once all of Afghanistan. What are the test and an apologist is likely oracle of course all of you know the first this. An MRI scan -- path. An MRI scan has proven to be the most specific."

" Diagnostic. Test for multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a disease characterized. By inflammation. Of the brain tissue or tissue within the spinal cord. And when that inflammation occurs. A characteristic. Lesion or Spock is seen on him."

" Had a physician can by looking at the pattern of spots in abnormalities on the MRI."

" Get an idea about the relative likelihood. That this pattern of inflammation doesn't do you represent. -- any form of multiple sclerosis. MRIs can be frightening experience team for people not only in terms of going into the -- also in terms of the results."

" Yes your right Rick and one of the important things to think about it is that. And our rights are done that are very important to help us not only make a diagnosis of Hamas initially. But also to track the progress of the disease. So despite the fact that you may have had an MRI done six months ago. Perhaps when you're having symptoms if the tractor is asking you to have another MRI repeated. It may be very a very good idea to do that because the disease changes -- only within the person but on hand."

" I scanned as well yes and in fact in those of you had a single episode I've I've of the neurological. Who's MRI has suggested of them us. You do not technically have clinically definite MS you have what we call clinically isolated syndrome with MRI."

" Validation that those people are at higher likelihood to develop that --"

" And need to be treated and one of the ways we can determine whether and that's actually occurs institute. Serial MRI scans and see that people acquire new spots over time with or without some."

" It's and it's also very important that if you have had a scan done. Somewhere else to bring it along so that it can't be compared with subsequent scans cassettes are real important aspect for the diagnosis of them has. He's looking at changes over time there are other diseases that can stimulate and -- that are not small ones that are packed her most commonly."

" Are -- Lagos as an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system Lyme Disease at least in the northeastern United States. But sometimes other diseases such as lupus or even iron vitamin B twelve deficiency."

" So it's important to recognize that there's no single tax that makes the diagnosis of maps."

" And I think. One of the other things -- to mention is that sometimes actors will order things like visually -- potential studies or some had a sensory evoked potential studies. And the person that. May feel that they really don't have any vision changes -- vision problems but these kinds of tests can give us additional information that we may not pick up on a Clinton."

" Caller -- exam it's very true and although we do fewer Lombard punctures or spinal taps or examination answerable spinal fluid. It still has a role and defining. What may be a mess and what may be an imitator and us. So I wish there was a unique. Single tax that you could do that sad that somebody has gotten us. And a number of people are living in that limbo where the doctors raise the suspicion. And may or may not recommend. Therapy but others have the diagnosis of clinically definite and ask where we know therapies that are important."

" Indeed it once the diagnosis of up clinically definite and a MS has made. There should be very strong consideration given to starting some sort of disease modifying therapy and that again is the reason why it's so important. To actually seek out a diagnosis weren't aware of the other yes you have amassed no you don't. Or to see an neurologist who can give you the differential diagnosis that doctor lunch -- and I just."

" And I'd like to thank you for joining us I hope this program has been helpful for you I'm Dr. -- much."