Failure to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis

It is possible to misdiagnose or even fail to diagnose multiple sclerosis because the symptoms can vary greatly among individuals and mimic other diseases. Symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and dizziness are vague and so the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is often delayed or overlooked.

There is no definitive test for multiple sclerosis so a doctor must be vigilant and perform a series of tests in order to determine that an individual suffers from multiple sclerosis. If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to untreated or undiagnosed multiple sclerosis, then you might have a claim for compensation.

Failure to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis Attorneys

The attorneys at Levine & Glassman have handled a variety of medical malpractice claims. A failure to diagnose multiple sclerosis can lead to serious, avoidable medical complications. If a medical professional failed to diagnose you or a loved one with multiple sclerosis and you suffered damages, contact the attorneys at Levine & Glassman at (954)332-6100 for a consultation about your possible medical malpractice lawsuit.

Multiple Sclerosis Information Center

• What is multiple sclerosis?
• How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
• What are the complications of multiple sclerosis?
• How is multiple sclerosis treated?
• How we can help

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What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. Individuals, who suffer with multiple sclerosis, develop legions in their brains that affect the white matter. The white matter contains nerve fibers that send signals to the rest of the body. The legions caused by MS destroy the myelin insulating the nerve fibers so the nerves are no longer able to transmit signals to the rest of the body.

MS symptoms can vary widely depending on the areas of the brain that contains the legions. Clinically, MS is hard to diagnose because the symptoms and severity are not the same across the board. MS is a very unpredictable and a physician needs to carefully investigate a patient’s medical history and run several tests in order to accurately diagnose MS.

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How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?

Currently the cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. Doctors believe that it is caused by some autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack the myelin located in the brain that is responsible for sending nerve signals throughout the body. There are a number of signs and symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis. Some of the symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness
• Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs
• Double vision
• Blurry vision
• Tremor, lack of coordination
• Unsteady walk or gait

These signs and symptoms can be associated with a myriad of other conditions so it is important for doctors to conduct blood tests, a lumbar puncture and an MRI to rule out some other conditions and confirm multiple sclerosis. The main indication of multiple sclerosis is the legions located in the brain. If the disease has not progressed so far as to cause legions in the brain, then a total patient history and ruling out other illness should lead the doctors to a correct diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

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What are the complications of multiple sclerosis?

If left untreated, multiple sclerosis can cause a number of complications in addition to the regular signs and symptoms caused by the disease. Some of the complications are:

• Muscle stiffness
• Muscle spasms
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• Paralysis in the legsM
• Problems with bladder control
• Problems with bowl control
• Sexual dysfunction
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems

If you or a loved one is experiencing and of these signs, symptoms, or complications and the doctors have not diagnosed multiple sclerosis, contact a medical malpractice attorney. Medical malpractice attorneys and personal injury attorneys work with a team of medical experts and specialists that can determine whether your physician failed to diagnose multiple sclerosis.

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How is multiple sclerosis treated?

So far there is no official cure for MS so the treatments involve soothing the symptoms. Some of the common treatments for MS are:

• Corticosteroids – these drugs are given to reduce the inflammation that MS causes.

• Plasma Exchange – This treatment is used to combat severe symptoms of multiple sclerosis and the process is similar to dialysis. In plasma exchange the blood cells are separated from the plasma. Doctor use plasma exchange when people are not responding to intravenous steroids.

• Beta Interferons – These drugs appear to slow progression of MS.

• Physical therapy – Because MS causes muscle control problems in some individuals, physical therapy allows the people to strengthen and control their muscles so that they can carry out day to day tasks.

• Muscle relaxants – The muscle relaxants help to control the muscle stiffness and the muscle spasms associated with MS.

• Other medications – Due to the fact that no two people have the exact complications when suffering from MS, the physician will have to get a treatment plan specifically tailored to your particular condition.

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How we can help

Due to the fact that multiple sclerosis can look like many other diseases, it is common for doctors to either misdiagnose or fail to diagnose MS. If the doctor did not follow the proper standard of care and failed to diagnose MS, then it is possible to have a medical malpractice suit brought against the physician if you have sustained damages due to the failure to timely diagnose multiple sclerosis.

We can help by investigating your medical records and getting experts and physicians to go over your records to determine whether or not there was indeed a failure to diagnose multiple sclerosis. We can also help you go through the process of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in order for you to get compensation and receive the care you need.

Levine & Glassman, P.A. – Florida Failure to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis Lawyers

The attorneys at Levine & Glassman have experience at evaluating and pursuing personal injury and medical malpractice claims in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. Contact our firm at (954) 332-6100 or using out online contact form and one of our attorneys will evaluate your potential failure to diagnose multiple sclerosis case, explain the process of filing such a claim, and answer any other questions you may have.