Three years later, at 34, Janet awoke to a prickly tingling feeling from her waist down to her feet. The sensation of "pins and needles" was so intense, she could hardly walk. She made another appointment with a neurologist who ordered three tests to confirm his suspicion of multiple sclerosis. These tests consisted of a lumbar puncture, evoked potential testing, and a scan of her brain and spinal column by a new exciting imaging technique, magnetic resonance imaging.
- 14. How does an MRI scan differ from a CT scan?
- 15. What are the advantages of an MRI scan over a CT scan?
The first test, a lumbar puncture, checked for elevated protein levels in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Results showed an increased level of abnormal protein.
- 16. What is a lumbar puncture?
Evoked potential testing showed a definite slowing of nerve impulses.
Instructor's Note:
Because nerve signals cannot easily pass through demyelinated nerves, nerve impulses are slower than normal. This slowing of the nerve impulses is what is detected through the evoked potential test.
- 17. What causes the characteristic plaques seen in MS?
- 18. Why are the plaques not always seen in a patient with MS?
Watch Breea's Story to see MRI scans of a brain lesion caused by Multiple Sclerosis.
View Multiple Sclerosis MRI video