Sometimes the only way to differentiate between MS and TM is time and
recurrence, or so I've been told. It's a kinda cloudy area.I guess you
could think of TM as being "single sclerosis" as opposed to "Multiple
sclerosis." It is single site as opposed to MS being multiple. The MRI and
lumbar puncture are needed for dx as far as I've read, as other spinal cord
injuries may give the same symptoms without having the same cause. The
pattern of the injury tells you only that there is nerve damage, not the
cause. CAT scan alone is not enough. Generally MRI of spinal cord and
brain are done, and some other tests called evoked potentials might also be
done.
For TM and MS the process of loss of the myelin sheath around the nerve,
with regeneration and healing seems to be the same. That process is very
individual, and happens at different rates of speed and to different
degrees.So, don't give up, it's far too early. Remember, you have TM, it
doesn"t have you!
Sam
PS Don't worry about asking ANY questions.. a lollipop to you if you come
up with one that we haven't asked ourselves in the middle of the night..
----------
> From: Marsden51(AT)aol.com
> To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
> Subject: have questions
> Date: Saturday, October 04, 1997 4:01 PM
>
> I am still not clear about TM. Is there any way to tell if you only have
TM
> or if you also have MS? I mean without the MRI or lumbar puncture. I
guess,
> I really mean are there any noticable differences in TM or TM with MS?
Does
> the pattern of numbness or loss of feeling make a difference in
diagnosis?
>
> I hope these questions aren't too dumb--but I am still trying to make
sense
> of all of this.
>
> Sharon
>