About multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis diagnosing

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that is often very challenging to diagnose, because many other conditions can have similar symptoms like it, such as blood vessels inflammation, multiple strokes, brain infection, vitamin deficiency, and sometimes high levels of stress can seem like multiple sclerosis, as well.
There is not just one simple test a person can take in order to find out if he or she suffers from multiple sclerosis. To figure out what’s causing possible MS symptoms, doctor will begin with looking at your medical history, the results of a neurological exam, and an MRI — and sometimes do a spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture). Other examinations, such as a blood test might also be needed in order to rule out conditions that mimic multiple sclerosis.

What doctors look for in order to diagnose MS?

• Damage to at least two areas of central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, optic nerves)

• Damage that happened in different points in time

• Other conditions that are excluded

MRI proves to be the best test for diagnosing multiple sclerosis and it is the most commonly used, because it gives a clear neurologist view of any deeper inflammation. However, this test doesn’t work on 5% of people.

Here are some of the conditions that are sometimes mistaken for multiple sclerosis:

• Lyme disease

• Migraine

• Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

• Stroke

• Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels)

• Vitamin B12 deficiency