MS diagnosis and symptoms

There are other diseases out there that mimic MS however with the lesions (plaques) found on the MRI along with his symptoms are highly suggestive of MS. His doctor would want to rule out other diseases before zeroing in on MS.

Spinal? Are you talking spinal tap? If so, it is not needed for a dx nor to rule out. I've had two and the last one I wanted to curl up in a corner and disappear.

As far as to what to expect...it's unpredictable and your brother will need to be monitored by his neurologist and overtime it will be determined what form of MS he has...it could be RRMS and then 10 years from now it goes to SPMS...it just depends on how MonSter treats him. There is no cure for MS however if he gets on a treatment which slows down the progression is the key to staying as healthy and active that he can be under the circumstances.

(below came from a previous post that I had posted to another MS question)

MS is a tricky creature. It comes in different forms...best way for me to tell someone when they ask what it is? (some think it is the same as Muscular Dystrophy...so I educate them)...it is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system...key word being 'unpredictable'.

nmss.org or mssociety.org are both great websites to learn about MS. It is so managable...I fall between benign and RRMS (descriptions listed below)...I listen to my body over the last 8 years than I ever did...if I get a little too hot, I know to find a cool spot as sometimes heat steals the use of my legs...however if that happens, I cool down and I'm good to go...like going for a long walk...years ago, I ended using a cane because my legs did not want to function correctly, lasted a few weeks, hasn't been back. If people ask what happened...'it's an old injury and just needs to heal once more'

To be honest, I hope you do not have MS and that it is stress and / or B12 related or something simple...but if you must join our club, you'll have great support & resources at your fingertips.


There are four types of MS, each with its own characteristics, but each as unpredictable as the other. It might not be clear which type of MS you have when you are first diagnosed. However, by noting changes over time, your neurologist should be able to clarify the type you have.

Relapsing Remitting MS
Most people are diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS. This is when you have relapses (a flare-up of symptoms), followed by remissions (periods of recovery). Relapses are unpredictable. They can last for days, weeks or months and vary from mild to severe. During a relapse you will either experience new symptoms, or a reccurrence or worsening of previous symptoms. During remission, symptoms can disappear completely, though sometimes people make only a partial recovery.

Symptoms might not always be due to a new relapse. For example, exercise or hot weather can sometimes raise body temperature and make symptoms temporarily worse. Any changed or new symptoms must last for at least 24 hours to be described as a relapse.

Secondary Progressive MS
Most people who have relapsing remitting MS later develop a form known as secondary progressive MS. This type of MS is identified when your condition becomes steadily worse, and your disability progresses, for a period of six months or more, whether you continue to have relapses or not.

Benign MS
If you have a small number of relapses followed by a complete recovery, you may be described as having benign MS. It is only possible to make a diagnosis of benign MS once you have experienced little or no disability for a period of 10 to 15 years. However, a diagnosis of benign MS does not guarantee that you will be free of problems; a relapse may occasionally occur after many years in which your MS has been inactive.

Primary Progressive MS
With primary progressive MS, symptoms steadily worsen, resulting in a continued progression in disability. You will not have distinct relapses and remissions.

~Zig

Thanks! Yes I was referring to a spinal tap. His doctor was really pushing for it so he has one scheduled for tomorrow:(
I have been doing alot of reading over the past few days and to be honest the more I read the more scared I am for him. He works in a foundry where heat is a major downfall. It is beyond tolerable in that place. I wonder how this will come to effect him after reading your post.
Gotta run to get my kiddos on the bus. Again thanks so much for replying to me.

Edited to ask...why was your last spinal tap so bad?

2nd spinal: I was in alot of pain in my lower back and legs, could not stand up straight or walk even a short distance without crying for about 2 weeks. The person who did the spinal said he was very careful however per the neuro and other specialist...apparently they hit a nerve ... like the siatic... Spinals are not error proof...injuries can happen and if it is a risk that one is willing to take.

First spinal I ended up with a what they call a 'spinal headache' and I had to go back and have a bloodpatch and also took Zomig due to the back to back migraines it created.

MS treats all of its victims differently...your brother may be able to handle heat...lately I am able to handle it, unsure why but I don't push my luck...if I start to get weak, cool place I search for.

They make cooling vests and other things that help people with MS cope with these strange symptoms. There are two mags that I subscribe to, MSFocus (free) and MS Motivator (free as well). There are great support groups & siminars / events which are put on by some of the companies that make the drugs to slow down MS and it is also a great place to meet others who are in your same shoes...whether you are the MSer or caregiver, family member or a person who just wants to be educated on this disease.

I do hope your brothers spinal tap will go well. Before the epidual is done they will inject him with a numbing agent...it feels like a bee sting...(I took a couple of my husband's hydrocodones before I had mine...I know, I know, I should not have taken somebodys elses meds however I needed something more than an aspirin)...if he needs something beforehand, they may be able to give him something to relax him.

If it turns out that he can not continue with his current job function, could he be transferred to maybe an inside job (office) or another location or go back to school and learn new skills?

Several years ago spinals were routinely done for MS purposes however recent research has id'd that bands or no bands in the spinal fluid does not indicate or rule out MS as research shows that some people with MS will not have bands and some who have MS and are having an active attack will have bands...so in truth it is a guessing game.

Let's see my 1st & 2nd were inconclusive and I had MS lesions and clinical findings of MS however my neuro did the wait and see (how many attacks, symptoms, etc) and then I got the dx...but because of his not wanting to label me as MS I missed several years of injectibles that slows down the progression of MS. At the time he was for certain that bands were needed in the spinal fluid to be absolutely sure of MS and now that procedure has been dismissed...he no longer requests spinals for MS dx.

Best Wishes,

~Zig