Concern for loved one

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Another update - he had all of his MRI scans Saturday morning and the neurologist called this morning to say a lesion was found on his brain, and another “reactive spot” in his cervical spine. Doctor suggested that it could be MS based on these findings. He wants to do a lumbar puncture next.

He has an appointment with an ALS specialist Wednesday and his neurologist told him to keep it. Are lesions a characteristic of ALS or is the neurologist wanting a second opinion on the scans? The idea of it not being ALS is a relief, but I wasn’t sure the reasoning behind keeping this appointment.
 
Lesions is vague but although there are findings that could suggest ( but not diagnose) ALS that are seen on mri sometimes they don’t look like MS so I would take this as positive. It is a weird world when MS is a hoped for diagnosis but all of us here would take it in a heartbeat as it is general treatable. Can y see the mri report on the portal?
 
Yes. I can copy what was found - they found a spot on the brain and cervical spine. I’ve attached screen shots of the findings.
 

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ALS is not a demyelinating disease. This mri points away from ALS. I don’t know why you are keeping the ALS appointment unless your current neurologist thinks these findings are not strong enough without other data( like the planned lp) so they want you to keep the appointment in case the ms doesn’t pan out. You would have to wait all over again
 
The new neurologist may very well want to see the mri images. If you had it in a different health system see if you can get a disc to take with you and tell them you have it when you check inThey can put it in their system for the neurologist to view
 
Just posting an update. We saw the ALS specialist neurologist over a week ago, and she was wonderful. Her father passed from ALS, and she assured us that while his symptoms are scary she doesn’t feel that what she is seeing is ALS. She did not order an EMG because she felt the MRI findings were definitely pointing more towards MS, as well as the fact that his symptoms would not be a usual presentation of ALS.

He had his lumbar puncture this morning and hopefully we will get results from that soon.

Just to reassure myself, all of these findings are definitely pointing away from ALS, correct? I keep worrying myself that they’ll walk this back and open that as a possibility again.
 
Yes. The report looked like MS to non neurologist me. The neurologist you just saw apparently agrees. She also was able to examine him and his exam must have been consistent with the diagnosis.

MS is serious but generally treatable. This is fabulous news. Please celebrate!

And thank you for the update. We are very happy for you
 
Considering the ALS specialist didn't even want to do an EMG, I reckon she's quite confident in her assessment.

As Nikki said, having MS still really sucks and I'm sorry that its looking like it, but it's sure better than ALS!
 
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