Multiple Sclerosis (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Multiple Sclerosis Overview
- The Central Nervous System and Multiple Sclerosis Causes
- Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
Exams and Tests
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis is difficult. The vague and nonspecific nature or this disease mimics many other diseases. Doctors combine history, physical exam, laboratory work, and sophisticated medical imaging techniques to arrive at a diagnosis.
- A complete blood count,
blood chemistry, urine analysis, and often
spinal fluid evaluation are all routine laboratory tests used to rule out other diagnoses and help confirm the diagnosis of
multiple sclerosis.
- An MRI, which creates an image of the brain or the spinal cord, is used to search for changes within the brain or spinal cord that are particular to
multiple sclerosis.
- More often than not, a neurology specialist is required to make a diagnosis.
Next: Multiple Sclerosis Treatment »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
The symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
Multiple Sclerosis
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From WebMD
Multiple Sclerosis Resources
- Signs That Your MS Is Getting Worse
- MS and Geography: What's the Link?
- The Secret? Hit MS Before it Hits You
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Multiple Sclerosis »
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS).
