How to Diagnose MS

Multiple Sclerosis, also referred to as MS, is an autoimmune disease that causes loss of vision, muscle control and balance and causes progressive numbness. MS attacks the spinal cord and brain, causing scar tissue to build up on one or both places. This scar tissue is called sclerosis, whereby MS gets its name. MS is more common in women than men and there is little understanding of what causes this debilitating disease.

Instructions

• 1

  Understand the symptoms of MS. Knowing what to look for is the first step to diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis. You should watch for signs of the disease in your vision, causing double vision or blurred vision and possibly eye pain. You may also notice increasing weakness in your muscles and decreased coordination.

• 2

  Have a complete medical exam. During the exam, a doctor, preferably a neurologist, will gather a complete medical history, looking for any signs and symptoms of MS or other conditions.

• 3

  Have an MRI scan. The MRI gives doctors images of the brain and can show the scar tissue associated with MS. Even so, similar scar tissue can be seen in patients with other conditions, such as high blood pressure or migraines, and a clean MRI without evidence of scar tissue does not rule out MS in about 5 percent of patients. The MRI scan can be an important test in the diagnosis of MS, but it must be in addition to a complete medical history and examination.

• 4

  Have your bloodwork tested to rule out other conditions. While MS cannot be diagnosed from a blood test, medical conditions that have similar symptoms can be ruled out through blood tests.

• 5

  Have an electrical test done. Your doctor might call for electrical tests that measure the brain's response to stimuli. These tests can show whether your hearing, vision or sensory pathways have been impacted. Some of the stimuli might include watching a video or listening to clicks.