What are the chances of being misdiagnosed with MS?

What are the chances of being misdiagnosed with MS?

The misdiagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a problem with significant consequences for patients as well as the healthcare system. There are nearly 1 million people in the United States living with the disease. And researchers now say nearly 20 percent of them are misdiagnosed.

Is MS easily misdiagnosed?

Diagnosing multiple sclerosis is not always straightforward. Lead researcher Dr Marwa Kaisey said the cost of MS misdiagnosis to the patient is ‘medically, psychologically and financially’ significant. A new study has found that almost one in five patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) were misdiagnosed.

What happens if you are misdiagnosed with MS?

MS misdiagnosis may increase morbidity as a result of psychological damage, risk associated with DMTs and corticosteroids use, inadequate treatment (2, 3), worsening of underlying disease such as in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs; (11), or delay in treatment of other potentially curable pathologies.

Can MS be misdiagnosed on MRI?

Misinterpretation of abnormal MRI findings is a frequent contributor to misdiagnosis of MS. One study found that only 11% of patients who were referred to a MS subspecialty center based primarily on an abnormal MRI were subsequently diagnosed with MS.

What can mimic MS lesions?

8 Conditions That Mimic Multiple Sclerosis

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Like MS, SLE is a disease of the immune system.
• Sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a disease that is usually occurs during young adulthood.
• Myasthenia Gravis.
• HTLV-1.
• Syphilis.
• Lyme Disease.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
• Blood Vessel Problems.

What other conditions can be mistaken for MS?

There are a significant number of people getting misdiagnosed with MS in part because there’s no single test for it, like a blood test.”…Diseases Less Likely to Be Misdiagnosed as MS

• Lyme Disease.
• Neuropathy.
• Lupus.
• Stroke.
• Sjogren’s Syndrome.
• Myasthenia Gravis.

Can you have a normal spinal tap and still have MS?

However, you cannot 100 percent confirm or rule out MS based on a spinal tap, explains Dr. Giesser. “Even if the spinal tap is negative, about 10 percent of people who have MS have normal spinal fluid.

What other autoimmune diseases are similar to MS?

What looks like MS but isn t?

These include fibromyalgia and vitamin B12 deficiency, muscular dystrophy (MD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), migraine, hypo-thyroidism, hypertension, Beçhets, Arnold-Chiari deformity, and mitochondrial disorders, although your neurologist can usually rule them out quite easily.

Can bloodwork be normal with MS?

While there is no definitive blood test for MS, blood tests can rule out other conditions that cause symptoms similar to those of MS, including lupus erythematosis, Sjogren’s, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, some infections, and rare hereditary diseases.

Can a pinched nerve mimic MS?

It is also common for people and doctors to misattribute the initial symptoms of MS to something more benign, such as a pinched nerve or muscle strain. Sometimes a person may have the symptoms of MS for many years before he or she seeks medical attention and receives a correct diagnosis.

What other symptoms have MS but no lesions?

About 5 percent of people who are confirmed to have MS do not initially have brain lesions evidenced by MRI. However, the longer a person goes without brain or spinal cord lesions on MRI, the more important it becomes to look for other possible diagnoses.

What do MS legs feel like?

The weakness can make your legs feel heavy, as if they are being weighed down by something. They may also ache and hurt. Some people with MS describe it as like having bags of sand attached to their legs. This muscle weakness combined with MS fatigue can be upsetting.

What can be confused with MS?

Conditions That Can Seem Like MS

• Epstein-Barr Virus.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
• Diabetes.
• Nerve Damage.
• Eye Problems.
• Stroke.
• Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases.
• Parkinson’s Disease.

Can you still be diagnosed with MS without lesions?

How does MS affect your feet?

Foot drop, or dropped foot, is a symptom of multiple sclerosis caused by weakness in the ankle or disruption in the nerve pathway between the legs and the brain. This disruption means it is difficult to lift the front of the foot to the correct angle during walking.