Hello Everyone please I did an MRI scan which shows I had multiple lesions in my brain after 8 years of facial pain and stiffness in my right side of my face . But my doctor is suggesting I go for my spinal fluid examination . Do I need this ? Or is MRI just enough
An LP would confirm if the MS is active. A follow-up MRI would also confirm but they need to wait a few months between scans to observe a meaningful differential effect.
Lumber Puncture (Spinal Tap) might sound gruesome but it’s relatively quick and they only take a trickle of spinal fluid to test. I recommend painkiller before the procedure.
Best,
JP
The neurologist who dx-ed me wanted to do an LP in the basis that he liked an MS dx to be as secure as it could be. That made sense to me so that’s what we did.
Thanks for your replies
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I didn’t have a LP. I was diagnosed in lock down and my neurologist said it might be worth having one in future but he has never called me for one and im not going to push or remind him! He’s happy with the diagnosis and ms certainly fits all the odd relapses
After working in a school and falling down numerous times my wife was referred by her GP to a Neurologist who in turn advised her to take an MRI. This was in 1996. The diagnosis was immediate and it was so clear that she was told she didn’t need an LP. The tests they did on her were enough as it was obvious. She always says she’s glad she didn’t have to have the LP.