| Re: Evoked potentials..........
Mel, you wrote a "answer" to me. I wanted to point out that Im not the one who posted ....(Jayhawk was)
But to touch on what you wrote: The point of the Evoked Potential test is to figure out how quickly the brain responds to electrical shock and where the damage is. I had Evoked Potentials on my hands to make sure that the hands werent the problem (they are numb and tingling) and to verify that it was an electrical signal from the brain resulting in the pain...it was.
I agree with MSJayhawks analogy of how they used to check MS to a point, however, there is one thing that MRIs DO show which should be acknowledged. If there is something going on at the time of the MRI and contrast is used, the lesion or attack lights up. The lesion shows brightly on the MRI picture, thus giving the doctor a better idea of what is new and what is old, and where the newest attacks are. This sometimes, helps correlate with the symtoms one is having. I know that when I had my big attack, I had an MRI at that time, and you could see over 50 lesions, 10 of which were all in the same area and all of which were causing the damage to my hand- however, in order to double check that, Evoked Potentials were done.
I also have weakness on my left side, which is not apparent from MRIs, but is apparently in Evoked Potentials- further analyzation shows that the lesions which are in my brain are causing the weakness....they are in areas which the neurologist is able to identify.
This is a big part of why we shouldnt try to read MRIs , CT scans or try to self diagnos- there are too many things to know, and since no two cases of MS are alike, trying to say that you have what someone else has, only works for soo long. That person might progress while you might never, and vice versa. The disease is very differnt for everyone. I hope this makes sense??
Nikki
__________________
RRMS- dx 05
Rebif 2005-2011
LDN Sept. 2011
"Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End"
| 
{hugs}
Linear Mode
