It is pretty routine to have a spinal tap (or lumbar puncture) done in addition to certain tests and an mri with and without contrast in order to get the most information from which to make a diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with ms in june 1998, one day after my positive mri. It wasn't until nearly 6 months later that my neurologist wanted me to have a spinal tap. It rules out other disorders that your symptoms might be a result of even if it does not come back positive for ms. So I had the spinal tap in december 1998 and yes, it came back negative for ms. But not all of them come back that way.

I don't know what your reasons are for not wanting to have one done, but I can assure you that only the most qualified doctors will do one. I think mine was an anesthesiologist and it was done in a hospital on an outpatient basis. They put a local anesthetic into a spot on your spine so you don't feel any pain of the needle going in. Then they withdraw just a little of the fluid, and then in my case, I stayed flat on my back there at the hospital for the next 4-6 hours to avoid the dreaded "spinal tap headache" which can be very painful.

Thank you for your reply. I guess I am apprehensive of the results either way. If it is positive, well you know...If it is negative, it is still up in the air. I guess the stigma of the "pain" of it all is there for me, too. My doctor said 1 out of 10 might have an unpleasant experience and they are the ones spreading the rumors of how awful it is.
nicci

I had to have a spinal tap done to confirm my diagnosis. I have to say it was pretty uncomfortable, but there are a lot more painful things to go through. And it does not take long, so it's not the worst thing. And more than likely you will never have to have another one again.

Thanks, mehra...I've had two c-sections. My guess is I can take it, but I see no reason to. It doesn't necessarily confirm anything. It confirms sometimes and doesn't rule out. My doctor is following me clinically for now. I have an mri in september (the 2nd one). I'll decide then to have it or not. For now, it doesn't matter. I feel certain I have this. My mom has it. I have almost all of the symptoms on some level. I'm not open to meds for it anyway. I decided with all that, there is no reason to endure it.

Does this mean you categorically deny any chance of your going on the abcr meds for ms? Or that they, for one reason or another, are not an option for you? Is it because of their cost?

We can't just cave in to this disease because we are afraid. I have been on copaxone (the "c" in abcr drugs) since february 1999 and in comparing the mri I had upon diagnosis in june 1998 to the one I just had this past january, my neurologist couldn't find much progression (ms is after all a progressive degenerative disease) at all. I attribute that to the steady use of copaxone.

Ms is not a terminal illness; it will not kill you but in many cases, especially without medication treatment, it will disable you faster than if you take the drugs. That mostly likely means you will be in the wheelchair faster if you don't help yourself by using the drugs that have been specifically discovered to help ms patients. I don't know about you, but my independence is of utmost importance to me. If I am ever confined to a wheelchair, I have no one to help me and would want no one, so I would have to kill myself.

When I landed in the er they did a spinal tap. Actually my neuro tried to do it and she damn near killed me so she had to send em down to the lab to have it done. They had a monitor down there so they could see where to put it in. Didnt hurt a bit then. . It came out neg. It was my mri and evoked potentials test that confirmed ms. Gail in nh

Have the tap. It's not that bad and it will help you with the diagnosis or ruling out ms. It will provide a clearer picture of what is going, and that cannot hurt. I had one, and it was clear, along with clear mri the docs are pretty sure I don't have ms. But that aside, you will be okay. Take a valium beforehand if you are nervous. Lie down afterwards and don't get up for awhile. I had headaches for a week afterwards. It was manageable and the stigma attached to the procedure is unwarranted. Good luck.