What happens when a person is told by the doctor that the reason for which lately he or she hasn’t been feeling so good might be multiple sclerosis?

As it is well known, multiple sclerosis is a disease that has no cure for the moment, and the cause of this disease still eludes scientists and researchers. It’s needless to say that a possible multiple sclerosis diagnosis is not something that anybody would want to hear.

But what is multiple sclerosis? How does it manifest and what are the tests that can lead to a proper diagnosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that’s hard to diagnose because it has a multitude of symptoms and shares similarities with other diseases. However, there are tests that can pin-point if it’s really MS or some other illness.

When it comes to multiple sclerosis, this is a degenerative, demyelinating autoimmune disease. Basically, one’s immune system attacks the body, more precisely the myelin coating around the axons and the neurons. The progression of the disease varies from person to person, and so do the symptoms.

The common multiple sclerosis symptoms are:

Fatigue – MS sufferers are affected by normal fatigue, and MS specific fatigue, called lassitude – a feeling of constant sleepiness, besides neuromuscular fatigue.

Spasticity  - which is the result of the dysfunction of an upper motor neuron that controls impulse and neurochemistry.

Weakness – appears because of the demyelination, and deconditioning; however, the muscles are only neurologically weakened.

Urinary dysfunction – the symptoms can include incontinence, hesitancy, frequency, urgency, et cetera.

Bowel dysfunction – most commonly constipation

Sexual dysfunction - impotence in men and decreased vaginal lubrication for women.

Pain – a very common symptom, which presents itself in various forms: irritative, burning, dysesthesia, et cetera.

Visual Dysfunction – which can mean loss of color,  blurry vision, phosphenes, and others.

Paroxysmal spasms – meaning that the paroxysmal  electrical short-circuiting of the spinal cord, which leads to sensory disturbances and spasms.

Pathological laughing or crying – this occurs when MS demyelination affects the peudobulbar palsy.

Depression – again, the demyelination affects and changes the brain’s neurochemistry, and this leads to depression

So, what are the tests that are used to diagnose MS?

-    Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan. This produces images of the brain and spinal cord, which in MS affected persons should present signs of demyelination.

-    Neurologic Exam. The doctor will check for malfunctions in coordination, functioning of the cranial nerves, strength, reflexes and sensations

-    Evoked Potential Testing. There are 3 separate tests, the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials, Visual Evoked Potentials and Sensory Evoked potentials.

-    Lumbar puncture

-    And Medical History

All of the above correlated, will provide the healthcare specialist a complete image of one’s condition and this will aid in placing the right diagnosis. As MS it is a condition very hard to diagnose properly, doctors will want to ensure that they are placing the right diagnosis and are starting the right treatment, and this is why several other tests might be performed before the final diagnosis is made.