Had a very hasty diagnosis yesterday - am I crazy for wanting a second opinion?

[arnoldwesley]

So, yesterday I found myself visiting a neurologist with MRIs in hand. On said MRIs, they found several small lesions and one larger lesion. I think the total number was around 5 or 6. I feel like, before the neurologist even sat down, he had made his diagnosis. I passed all his cursory exams (sensory and otherwise), aside from walking in a straight line heel to toe. Now, the doctor told me my passing the tests and my MRIs were in total disagreement - he did not expect me to be able to do many if any of them given the MRIs. I have had issues with off-and-on headaches for about 10 years, but I have never received anything like this diagnosis prior. I visited the ER Tuesday night, lazed around Wednesday, visited the neurologist Thursday, and had loads of blood drawn today.

I have heard this is a hard disease to diagnose, and am, frankly, unsure of whether it was the proper diagnosis given my lack of symptoms. I think wanting a second opinion is only responsible, in this case, because this whole thing came out of the blue. I went to the ER because my GP wanted a CT scan for a migraine I'd been having, and the whole thing spiraled from there.

[HVAC]

I got a second opinion because I did not think I had MS. I do but the second opinion helped me accept it.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community,

The number of lesions is not as significant as there locations, i would have to assume the lesions were consistent with the MS Mcdonald criteria, and if you had both contrast and non constrast MRI's, that one or more of them lit up like christmas tree lights, otherwise if the lesions were non specific and in common location(s) diagnosing MS wouldn't make sense....

It's not uncommon for MRI's to not match a patients clinical signs, more often we hear of it being the other way around though, as in abnormal clinical signs and there MRI's are basically normal. Spinal cord lesions mostly because they can be missed on the MRI but the patient still has all the right clinical signs of lesion damage. Keep in mind there is neurol rewiring involved with brain plasticity, so it's not completely outside of normal to function better than your MRI would suggest you'd be.

Sometimes being diagnosed with MS comes as a complete surprise, MS is often very complicated to dx and can take years but if your MRI has all the suggestive/consistent diagnostic evidence it's likely correct, i'd still suggest you speak to your diagnosing neuro about getting a full explanation as to why he is confindent you have MS and or consider getting a second opinion with an MS specialising neurologist too.

Hope that helps........JJ

[maxthecat43]

I agree with Supermum.  There had to be indisputable evidence to get a diagnosis so quickly.   If you already had non-enhancing lesions consistent with MS, and a new enhancing lesion- that's all the dr would need.  Even with no symptoms.   Some never have symptoms,  and diagnosis is made via autopsy.  

I'm sorry you've had to join this particular club, but this is a good place for answers and support.  

Also, a second opinion is never a bad thing.

[aspen2]

Wow!  I understand why you would be concerned!  I had 12 lesions in ms areas ... Largest 7.6 mm and because they were too small, my diagnosis took 3 years and 6 relapses!

Without a very obvious neuro exam and proof of relapse, I would question the diagnosis as well.

Was this doc an ms specialist?  If
not, I would definitely seek a second opinion with an ms neuro.

[UnsureMS]

I agree with aspen...I know that my neuro feels that I have Ms but  it has been 10 yrs now and he is still not willing to dxs me. I understood the dxs takes a while to get, and you should have a few of the sxs and at least one relapse so I truly would get a second opnoin.

Plus migraines and headaches can cause legions on the brain, and b 12 def. can as well. GOOD LUCK...