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Home > Archive > Multiple sclerosis support > November 2005 > spinal tap with or without symptoms?
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spinal tap with or without symptoms?
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| tinaboo2 2005-11-26, 12:57 am |
| what if you are feelling pretty good - not in an attack, or whatever
when you are not DX yet -- do the bands show up anyway?
if you have them?
thanks for any advice
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| kamel 2005-11-26, 12:57 am |
| If they are trying to diagnose brain injury or spinal cord injury, a spinal
tap may be used. A needle draws off fluid that may contain breakdown
products of certain parts of the central nervous system. Analysis of the
fluid may reveal which parts (of the CNS) are being destroyed.
MS destroys the protective myelin surrounding axons. If breakdown products
such as myelin basic protein (MBP) are found in the spinal fluid, that may
be one indication that the person has MS, but is usually not enough for a
diagnosis by itself. In RRMS, the bands showing MBP may not be present at
all at the the time the tap is done, but the patient could still be
suffering the effects of the most recent attack. The patient can still have
MS (or other CNS damage) without the bands appearing. Sometimes, the bands
may be faint or inconclusive as to origin. Dave
"tinaboo2" <tina.boudreau@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132968934.278967.318860@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> what if you are feelling pretty good - not in an attack, or whatever
> when you are not DX yet -- do the bands show up anyway?
>
> if you have them?
>
> thanks for any advice
>
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| Jennifer 2005-11-26, 10:57 am |
| you dont need a spinal tap for a diagnosis. I never had one nor did my neuro
mention one. My first MRI was clear but I was given a diagnosis based on
symptoms.
Jen
"kamel" <kamel@tds.net> wrote in message
news:4387c65a$1_2@newspeer2.tds.net...
> If they are trying to diagnose brain injury or spinal cord injury, a
spinal
> tap may be used. A needle draws off fluid that may contain breakdown
> products of certain parts of the central nervous system. Analysis of the
> fluid may reveal which parts (of the CNS) are being destroyed.
>
> MS destroys the protective myelin surrounding axons. If breakdown
products
> such as myelin basic protein (MBP) are found in the spinal fluid, that may
> be one indication that the person has MS, but is usually not enough for a
> diagnosis by itself. In RRMS, the bands showing MBP may not be present at
> all at the the time the tap is done, but the patient could still be
> suffering the effects of the most recent attack. The patient can still
have
> MS (or other CNS damage) without the bands appearing. Sometimes, the
bands
> may be faint or inconclusive as to origin. Dave
> "tinaboo2" <tina.boudreau@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1132968934.278967.318860@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
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| Tina;
>not in an attack, or whatever
>when you are not DX yet -- do the >bands show up anyway?
I was in the middle of a horrendous attack when I had the spinal tap,
and it was clear. No banding.
The MRI got me the "prize" of an MS diagnosis.
Sylvia
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tinaboo2 wrote:
> what if you are feelling pretty good - not in an attack, or whatever
> when you are not DX yet -- do the bands show up anyway?
hi Tina, hmmm, good question -- i have no idea!
i've only had one LP, for diagnostic purposes. it showed elevated
protein levels and the presence of oligoclonal bands -- i guess that
means is was positive! -- but i was having my 'initial episode' at the
time, and have not had one since, so...i don't know!
good question, though; anyone else know for sure?
rose
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rose wrote:
> but i was having my 'initial episode' at the
> time, and have not had one since
duh -- that means i haven't had a *LP* since, not that i never had
another relapse!! LOL...I *wish*! ;->
RD
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| QQQte@webtv.net 2005-11-28, 12:59 am |
| i don't know either.... but even if i stand alone i don't yet belive
there is any clear cut test to dx ms.... these tests must show positive
in one aspect or another for the doc to dx.... you may have positive
symptoms of ms and the tests inconclusive..... the docs need positive
tests before they dx even if they know you have ms.
many doc's want to start early treatment even before they have a
positive dx. and some do... the earlier the better....
ms symptoms as far as i've read and studied and knowing personal msers
without a dx yet. and from the asms are pretty identifiable even when
there different.
just take a gander at how many of us have said it doesn't sound like ms
to me to a newbie.....
i do belive the old school of medicine was the best at identifying
ms..... if you live long enough you'll live long enough to know people
that have or had a disease that the doc was looking for and no test
showed it... until it was to far gone or almost.....
it's not the doc's fault but then again it often is some doc's
fault..... a doc that takes his oath to heart never labels anyone with
it's all in your head besides which is a (dx of a another neuro
disorder).... but finds it a challenge to find the answer and to help
you...... but insurance companies frown on this and deduct the wages of
the doc for every test they run if your under a h.m.o.....
i'm a sponge for knowledge so if you disagree with me i'm
interested..... by the way i've been labled it's all in your head and in
the end it never was..... dory
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