It is important to diagnosis a patient as soon as possible, since treatment can slow the disease. It is very hard for a doctor to diagnosis any patient with multiple sclerosis. That is because there is no specific test to show if an individual has it. Also, there are many symptoms that MS patients will have, but these symptoms are very similar to other disorders. A specialist that any patient should go to if they think they have MS or have the symptoms of MS is a neurologist. That is because a neurologist specializes in treating the disease should be able to look into how you’re feeling and help you figure out if your symptoms mean you have MS or another problem.
Your doctor will start by asking you about your medical history and your symptoms. They'll also test to see if your brain and spinal cord are working as they should. These include:
- Imaging tests, like an MRI, to take a closer look at your brain
- Spinal taps, also called lumbar punctures, to check the fluid that runs through your spinal column
- Electrical tests, called evoked potentials, to see if MS has affected your nerve pathways
- Blood tests
"How Multiple Sclerosis Is Diagnosed." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
"Diagnosing MS." National Multiple Sclerosis Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
"Diagnosing MS." National Multiple Sclerosis Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.