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How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?

In a nutshell...

✅ MS is diagnosed by a neurologist who you'll see by GP referral.

✅ The neurologist will talk through your story to establish symptoms both past and present. They may also perform a physical examination if required.

✅ If the neurologist suspects MS, they'll organise one or more tests to get a definitive answer, the most common are an MRI or a lumbar puncture.

✅ MRIs scan your body while lying in a magnetic tube. It's painless, though noisy, and is an enclosed space. They're very accurate and work by identifying any lesions on your brain/spinal cord.

✅ Lumbar punctures/spinal taps involve fluid being drawn from the base of your spine via needle under local anaesthetic. The fluid drawn is tested for antibodies common in MS. This test can be painful, but most people don't experience any discomfort.

✅ Receiving a diagnosis can can take days or for some it can take years. It's your GP's and neurologist's duty to rule out any other causes of your symptoms before an MS diagnosis is reached. This might feel as though you're being met with suspicion. You can always seek a second opinion if you're worried.

Shift.ms is a community of over 45,000 members sharing their experiences of MS. You can use the site to make the most of your appointments, learn and ask questions about the condition and speak to other people with MS about symptoms and treatment choices.

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Creating your free Shift.ms account takes two minutes. Join our community, it's run by MSers, for MSers.

Our members MS diagnosis stories

We asked members of the community to talk about their diagnosis stories, it doesn't always go smoothly and sometimes can be a source of frustration, listen to their experiences and perhaps get some tips to help you with your own.