What do you know.......... - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

kimpossible67 · 04-24-2007, 03:59 PM

I have MS. Dx'd today out of the blue. He was going to send me to a specialist but the 2nd vep and the opthamalogist letter must have put it over the top. I have been told repeatadly that I would never get a diagnosis with a negative spinal tap but the Neuro says that is completely possible when everything else says MS.
I will be starting on Copaxone soon. He says Relapsing/Remitting. Zanaflex for muscles, Xanax for whatever.
So, to those of you with a positive everything else and a negative spinal tap, don't give up. It IS possible to have MS without it.

unclesam612 · 04-24-2007, 05:21 PM

I guess anything is possible but I would still want a mri and spinal tap. Before starting on MS therapy drugs I would want to be sure. The zanzflex and xanax are just symptom control.

lilc · 04-24-2007, 06:38 PM

You know, it could be time again to mention the diagnostic criteria. I've found more than one on the web, but they are similar. It seems that the dx can come from hitting any one of the "accepted" combinations of criteria. And yes, I've certainly heard of folks having a negative LP and still having MS (or a negative MRI, etc.).

In any event, congrats(?) for finally getting an answer! I say congrats because I know what a huge relief it was for me when my neuro finally said the words, "You have MS." Other folks would probably think we are completely insane, but considering the road to those words...

I've been on Copaxone since Nov. 05, things have been going very well. Hope it is the same for you!

kimpossible67 · 04-25-2007, 05:10 AM

I have had EVERY test possible. MRI of brain and c-spine, 2 visual evoked potentials, CT scan, spinal tap (neg). EEG of my brain (or EMG) and auditory. I've been blood tested for lupus, lyme, HIV, mathanias gravis (sp), myopothy. I've seen an opthamologist and he noted changes in my eyes and was THE ONE that said it was MS, he wrote a letter to my Neuro. My neuro said he could send me to Wayne State to the MS specialist but he didn't think he'd say much different than what he was saying. In his words, he ruled out everything else and all that was left was Ms. I'm just relieved to know I'm NOT crazy. We can deal with anything if we know what we are up against.

kimpossible67 · 04-25-2007, 05:12 AM

I've been on Copaxone since Nov. 05, things have been going very well. Hope it is the same for you![/QUOTE]

Is "remembering" areas to inject difficult? How about side-effects? Tell me your experiences, pretty please.

Thanks!