Before initiating treatment for MS, it is important that the diagnosis is correct. This excludes the possibility of other conditions being responsible for any symptoms present.
The importance of a thorough medical review
At present, there is no definitive test to determine if someone has Multiple Sclerosis. The difficulty of diagnosing MS is compounded by the wide variety of symptoms that can appear from one person to the next. MS symptoms can appear similar to those of other diseases.
Since early symptoms may just as easily be caused by several other diseases, it often requires all the experience of a neurologist to diagnose MS. It takes the expertise of a neurologist to: conduct a thorough review of a person’s medical history; to request specialised tests; conduct a neurological examination and assess the findings to reach a conclusion.
A diagnosis of MS can only be made after all other possible causes and symptoms have been ruled out.
How is MS confirmed?
Often the first sign of the illness is no more than a passing ‘odd’ feeling in the arms or legs, which neither the individual nor doctor might regard as being particularly significant. Consequently, several months, or even years, may pass before MS can be diagnosed with confidence.
Diagnosis is based on clinical and para-clinical criteria.
- Clinical criteria are supplied by the history of the illness, or anamnesis, and the results of the clinical-neurological investigation, namely the clinical findings.
- Para-clinical criteria are the results of various technical investigations, such as magnetic resonance tomography evoked potentials, and by examining the cerebral fluid.
An accurate diagnosis of MS relies on both clinical and para-clinical parameters.
Further investigations, in addition to these standard procedures may be called for in an attempt to either diagnose MS or exclude MS as the root cause of symptoms.
Receiving a diagnosis of MS can be very distressing, provoking a strong emotional response, and this is perfectly normal. Feelings of shock, fear and grief are common reactions. It is advisable to talk with a specialist MS nurse or doctor, to ask for support on dealing with a confirmed diagnosis of MS diagnosis and to seek guidance on how best to treat the disease. It is also advisable to gather information and experience through MS patient associations and forums
