Multiple Sclerosis Test - How Do the Doctors Test For Multiple Sclerosis?

Because Multiple Sclerosis has such a wide variety of symptoms that can vary so dramatically from one patient to another, it can take months or even years for a doctor to finally decide to perform some kind of test for Multiple Sclerosis. Many patients can suffer the more mild symptoms for years without ever realizing that they are indicative of a bigger problem and unless you go to a specialist these symptoms may not be enough to trigger your doctors suspicions enough to proceed with testing.

Early Testing

When your doctor first suspects that you may be experiencing the effects of MS he will start out by creating a very detailed history of everything you can tell him about your symptoms as far back as you can remember. This is very important as the symptoms can often be so mild that they are thought to be nothing more than a normal part of life and as they go away are something that most of us never think about, especially as part of a growing problem.

Once your doctor has fully evaluated your medical history and compared it to known symptoms he will then be able to make his recommendations. At this point you will be referred to a clinic or hospital that has the necessary equipment and experience to test for Multiple Sclerosis. This stage of testing will involve a variety of both physical and neurological testing so that the specialists can make a full diagnosis and either confirm or rule out MS.

Actual Testing

Most facilities use a combination of three testing procedures to confirm the diagnosis of MS in a patient. However there are also requirements that the patient exhibits two completely separate events or symptoms over a period of time for a final diagnosis to be made. These three tests are the most commonly used to test for Multiple Sclerosis:

1. MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging is used in conjunction with an IV solution of gadolinium to help pinpoint the lesions associated with Multiple Sclerosis. It can help the physician find, identify and in some cases actually put a beginning date on the lesions as well as help to track their growth over time.

2. Electro-physical testing: Here the electrical pulses the travel from one nerves to another as well as the speed at which they move are measured to determine if they are moving at the proper speed or are moving too slowly, which is one of the symptoms of MS.

3. Examination: By examining the fluids that surround both the spine and the brain, known as cerebro-spinal fluid, it is possible in some cases to identify antibodies or abnormal cells that do not belong there. Their presence is often seen as indicative of multiple sclerosis.

These tests are the most commonly used to determine whether or not a patient has MS, however patients' symptoms are also considered a major factor in the diagnosis and in some cases are likely to be enough to provide sufficient proof that they do indeed suffer from Multiple Sclerosis. While there is currently no known cure for this disease there are very successful treatments, medications and diets that work wonders in reducing and eliminating the symptoms.