Yes, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can be frequently misdiagnosed, with studies suggesting up to 25% of people diagnosed might be incorrect, because many other neurological conditions share similar symptoms and MRI findings, including migraines, vitamin deficiencies, Lyme disease, and genetic disorders, leading to delayed or unnecessary treatment, stress, and financial burdens. The challenge lies in differentiating MS from these "MS mimics," which requires careful application of diagnostic criteria and ruling out other possibilities.
Conditions Similar to Multiple Sclerosis
A wide range of conditions can be mistaken for MS, including: migraine, cerebral small vessel disease, fibromyalgia, functional neurological disorders, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, along with uncommon inflammatory, infectious and metabolic conditions (1, 3).
The course of MS is unpredictable and can cause a variety of symptoms in different people. It may cause hearing problems and other symptoms that have to do with the function of the inner ear, such as hearing loss, tinnitus, balance problems, and a muffled or full feeling in the ear.
You'll need to ask your current doctor to arrange for this second opinion. There's no law at the moment that says you have a right to a second opinion. But General Medical Council guidelines for doctors say they should respect your wish for a second opinion. Doctors usually agree to a reasonable request for one.
Tests used to diagnose MS may include: MRI, which can reveal areas of MS on the brain and spinal cord. These areas are called lesions. A contrast dye may be given through an IV to highlight lesions that show the disease is in an active phase.
There is a significant association between MS and disturbed vitamin B12 metabolism. Vitamin B12 deficiency should always be looked for in patients with MS.
Inner ear disorders are common and patients with vestibular failure often present to a neurology clinic because of their dizziness, gait unsteadiness and oscillopsia. Vestibular disorders can be divided into peripheral and central vestibular disorders.
1800 mg of Gabapentin a day is a common dose to help neuropathic pain. The FDA has approved PreGabalin and Cymbalta for treatment of diabetic related peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia, but we also use these medications for MS neuropathic pain in an off label fashion.
What are the early symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Nerve Damage. Nerve cells (neurons) are the foundation of your nervous system. They send electrical signals to each other to help your body function properly. If they stop working the way they should, you may start having symptoms similar to those of MS.
Your doctor will likely carry out some initial tests to try and gauge what is going on. They can't diagnose MS, but they can refer you to a neurologist who can. There is no definitive test for MS and its diagnosis takes into account your various symptoms, MRI scan and lab results, while ruling out other explanations.
Common symptoms include:
Yes, anxiety symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for MS symptoms. For example, both conditions can cause tingling and numbness.
ANA is sometimes positive in people with MS and in apparently healthy individuals. ANA testing in those that meet formal MS diagnostic criteria has been questioned. Our study shows that ANA testing is not useful in distinguishing MS from non-MS.
Neurologists are trained to look beyond common causes of dizziness. And they can investigate whether the issue lies in the brain, nerves, or the vestibular system. This is the complex network in your inner ear and brain that helps you stay balanced.
MS affects the nerves in the brain. And this can cause hearing problems and other MS symptoms related to the ears. When MS damages the nerve fibres, or the myelin sheath around the outside, it can affect messages going to and from the ear.
Symptoms include:
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.
Some people with MS lose sensation in their tongue. Some health care providers refer to MS-related tongue issues as “MS tongue.” Loss of sensation or numbness can make it difficult to move your tongue when you speak, chew, or swallow. Tongue numbness may also diminish sense of taste.
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Some of the most common symptoms include: feeling extremely tired (fatigue) problems with your eyes or your vision, such as blurred vision or eye pain.
Magnesium. This important mineral may be able to help improve sleep and muscle spasms, which are common in people with MS, says Dr. Loma-Miller, although she cautions that while “in the migraine world, it's been shown to help with pain, it hasn't been studied much for MS.” Magnesium comes in different forms; Dr.
Vitamin B12 is vital for fixing and keeping the myelin sheath healthy. It supports the nervous system and helps recover from conditions that damage the myelin sheath.
Common Supplements Used by People With MS