Question about how MS is diagnosed

[Guest guest]

How difficult is it to diagnose MS? I am here for RA but I know my

diagnosis was not cut and dry initially. I also have a friend with

Crohn's and his was not diagnosed easily either. Is it the same for MS?

I ask because my Mother in Law was hospitalized in 2004 after having a

sudden attack of paralysis from her neck down. She was just out in

the yard gardening when it happened. Ofcourse they thought it was a

stroke but testing didn't indicate any damage in the brain at all.

They spent three days testing and finally gave her a diagnosis of

Transverse Myelytis. She spent 2 months in rehab and regained some

function and returned home in a wheelchair. Another neurologist told

her her diagnosis was wrong and that she'd had a spinal cord stroke.

With the stroke diagnosis doctors told her that she would only improve

and not get any worse---that the damage was done and would not

continue. Well...guess what....its been 2 years since she was told

that and she is getting worse not better. Lots of bladder issues that

had been resolved at one point are back and lots more problems with

spasticity and weakness. She has worked very hard to gain as much

mobility as possible and I just wonder if a MS diagnosis was missed.

Could that ever happen?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Lee Ann in MN