Struggling to get diagnosed with MS

The Gold standard for a ms diagnosis is an MRI with & without contrast dye. A spinal tap is sometimes used to confirm a diagnosis, but is not necessary most of the time. The presence of Oligoclonal protein bands in one’s spinal fluid indicates MS.

I had an MRI but no spinal tap. My first neurologist said you could see it was MS based on my first MRI.

Rough if you can’t get an mri. I had an mri and lumbar puncture/ spinal tap, both of which unfortunately confirmed MS. I think those 2 together are considered the gold standard for ms diagnosis