Diagnosis

The diagnosis of MS can be a very complex process because people experience different symptoms at different times. Generally speaking, a person will present to their GP, who will refer them on to a neurologist. The neurologist will take a history from the patient, asking them about symptoms they've experienced recently and also whether they have experienced any symptoms in the past. They may well also have a lumbar puncture and depending upon the symptoms may require visual-evoked response tests which measure the speed that nerves are conducting within the eye. Once all of these test results are back, the patient will be reviewed by the neurologist again and a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis may be given. If a patient has only ever had one episode of symptoms, then they may be given a diagnosis of Clinically Isolated Syndrome and be reviewed by the neurologist again in six to 12 months to see if their symptoms have changed. Only after two episodes of symptoms can a patient be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Because Multiple Sclerosis is a difficult condition to diagnose other conditions, such as strokes or brain tumours, may well need to be excluded before the definite diagnosis can be given.

I suppose the important thing for anyone who has been recently diagnosed and also for any healthcare professional, is not to be afraid to ask questions as to how the patient is feeling, or as to what symptoms they are experiencing. Often there is a stigma attached to certain questions. So for example, talking about somebody is incontinence, in everyday conversation, probably not very good to do, but within the clinical environment, I think if you talk about it, you demystify it and bring it out to the open. Nobody suffers any embarrassment.