Optic neuritis and dropped foot

[nicolasmcdc]

Hello. I had optic neuritis. the symptoms started March 1st, after 2 weeks i was treated with ev corticoids. Then on April 6th I developed dropped foot on the right foot. My MRI did not show any lesions (1.5 Tesla MRI). One doctor suggests to start treatment with interferon beta now and the other one to wait. What should I do?

[immisceo]

No one can really answer that for you. Things could already show up in a 3T machine. Usually 'the earlier the better' as far as treatment goes, but if you need more time to think or feel more secure with additional evidence, MS is generally slow moving.

[nicolasmcdc]

Yes, they were both documentes by a doctor. Would it change how MS evolutes if I start with Avonex now or wait until my MRI shows something?

[immisceo]

Well, if both episodes were documented by a doctor, then you do fit the MacDonald criteria for MS diagnosis. I had drop foot and internuclear opthalmoplegia at the end of November 2010 and optic neuritis in early January 2011, so a similar rapid timeline to yours. That would have been enough to diagnose me right there, but I did have a positive lumbar puncture and positive MRI that removed any question.

I'm afraid this comes down to a judgement call for you. If you want to be more sure, you can ask for more tests or wait for the MRI to change. MS is pretty slow moving, so you have a little time to decide this without changing your outcome. But it sounds like you qualify to begin treatment if you wish. These are tough decisions, but they're personal decisions. There is no 'should' or 'shouldn't'.

[karryon55]

Hi there & welcome to the forum.

Have you thought about asking for some more testing at this stage. There are evoked potentials & the lumber puncture sounds definitely like it might help you in this situation. Just a thought.

Karry.