Is it MS?
I am new to the forum. I recently had Retrobulbar Optic Neuritis and was sent to a retina specialist for further evaluation. He sent me for an MRI of the head and orbits. The results were "non specific" spots and was referred to Neurologist because with some other tingling and numbness of the legs, he said possibility of MS. At first, the thought of an MS diagnosis scared me but I realize it's very manageable and I'm ready for results... no matter what the outcome... I just want to know to start treatment plan if necessary. My eyesight change has been drastic to the point of pulling over because I struggle to see clearly at times. It feels as if it's slowly getting better. My appointment is t until the beginning of Dec so now I wait. I'm not going to lie, the thought of a lumbar puncture makes me cringe. I've had two spinal fusions on my back so I'm scared. Advice? Is it necessary? I'd like to hear other stories. Thank you so much, in advance!
Hi Trw211! First off, my apologies for the delay in replying. Secondly, we cannot provide medical advice or diagnosis, for your safety. With those two items out of the way, what I can say is this -- You always have the right to accept or decline any medical procedure. It's your body. You get to say (to a degree) what happens to it. Here is some information on the tests doctors use to reach a diagnosis of MS -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/diagnosis/. While your symptoms may subside, if you do have MS, getting the proper treatment is very important. Since you mentioned dealing with optic neuritis, I wanted to share some information from our site about this condition -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/symptoms/vision-problems/. It is one of the common vision issues people living with MS may eventually face.
If you decide to proceed with the lumbar puncture, please make sure the physician performing the procedure is well aware of your back issues. Some of our members have had very smooth lumbar punctures, while others have had some side effects (mainly, a severe headache). Here is some good information on the spinal tap procedure -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/joy-getting-spinal-tap/comment-page-1/#comments. Many of our members chimed in with their experiences at the end of the article, so you may want to check out the comments. Some will be reassuring, some may not be as calming to read. It sounds like you are pretty proactive about your health and confident in dealing with what may come -- that's great! An educated, decisive individual is already in a good position to start tackling MS or any other chronic condition. Please do come back and update us on your situation, if you feel comfortable doing so.
Best of luck and please know this community is here to support you in any way we can! Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.
