One step at a time. Ask about the presence of large lesions. They are MS indicative. The LP is to comfirm, not fun, but sometimes necessary. Do what you have to do. Keep me in the loop, Steve.

Good luck with MRI!

But if it turns out that you do have MS ... LDN is a drug that some feel works well for them. Some docs won't prescribe it though so you may have to search a bit for help with that if you choose it. Other MS options are prescribed therapys Rebif, Avonex, Copaxone and Betaseron. You can see those under treatments here on this site and you'll see members statements about them. Weigh all the options and pick what works best for you.

There was NO WAY I was going to submit to a Lumbar Puncture!!!

The general approach is:

MRI with and without contrast
Neuro exam by neurologist
Lumbar puncture---if you have issues with it--no worse than if you had an epidural with delivery
Tons of labs-count on 12-17 vials of blood being drawn.

Best of luck---if you refuse something and have to apply for ssdi later--they will make you do it anyway.

The MRI should be confirmation (or hopefully not) When I was dx everyone was 99% sure it was MS. I don't need to go through a spinal tap to get another 1%. I am not taking any meds just acupuncture and I feel great. Good Luck to you.

I had the MRI, I got a copy CD. Then I had a Nerve Conduction and EMG done on my right leg. And then she tested my right arm for carpal tunnel.
Results: Preliminary look at the MRI, nothing to suggest MS.
All the other tests, nothing.

So when I asked where do I go from here, I still have all these symptoms, she suggested that I was maybe OCD...I said okay, I guess I am on a mission, not necessarily to have MS, but I am on a mission to find out what is wrong with me and why at 52 years old my life is so limited, and in connecting the dots why do I have a tremor since I was 18 yrs old, why does my younger sister have a tremor? Why did my father have epilepsy? Why do I have REM sleep disorder and act out my dreams physically? Aren't all of those neurological issues? Why is my face numb? Why do my thighs burn and go numb? Why does my electric shock climb up my back from my shoulder to almost my ear? and the million dollar question that has me on this quest, is where does this chest pain that cardiologists, and gastroenterologists can't find come from???
So, maybe I am OCD, and now look at my tremor, I would say yes stress seems to cause or worsen some of my problems...and that is about all I have to say about that...
She told me I should lose a little weight and my legs wouldn't hurt and maybe I should see the cardiologist again....and nothing was offered for the neuro issues, or am I missing something?

Oh, I forgot, I have a real dousy sinus infection in the MRI, and she did say, if the sinus infection was on the same side as the numbness on my face that might be connected, but it ain't so.

Some of you had asked what MRI was done. Brain only, no spine.

Now my wife is asking me if I am OCD. I keep telling her to read the book. Last week I got the 'MS For Dummies' Book. I got a lot out of it. I told her, you still need to read it, even if I don't have MS, because you will understand alot of what I am experiencing not matter what it is called.

Am I OCD? Maybe I am, after all its all in my head?

Serious question, the plaques or scars or lessions, do they only occur in the brain and the spine??? Does it occur or not occur in nerves outside of those areas?

Okay, I'm on a roll now.

This thought crossed my mind about why it might be so hard for some folks to get a diagnosis for MS. And I thought to myself that might not be a bad thing.

A positive diagnosis is like a sentence handed out by a judge. Once you are given that sentence you lose a lot of rights afforded to people without that sentence. Possibly to work, to get insurance, for some to prematurely give some things up and more I'm sure.

I hope I haven't crossed any lines on here.

I don't want to have MS. I just want to know what I should be doing.

I feel for you! There are SO many questions, and my experience has been that some doctors just seem to want to dismiss your symptoms as "all in your head" or some other answer to avoid the MS "sentence" as you say. Don't give up! Keep asking those questions, find another doctor-a neuro who can read your prior test results and answer your questions. As for your last post, MS is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and some additional protections are afforded those with MS, so don't worry too much about the discrimination factor.
Sounds like you aren't too thrilled about a lumbar puncture, and I can also relate to that, but when I finally agreed, it was a non-event. The only thing I felt at all was a sting from the local anestetic.
Good luck, and keep asking those questions! It's how we learn!