81% of UK patients with MS are misdiagnosed?

[Marco]

A leading charity in the UK has warned that about 80 per cent of the people suffering from multiple sclerosis are misdiagnosed by the doctors in the country.
A survey conducted by the MS Society of more than 1,500 people with multiple sclerosis found that about 81 per cent were misdiagnosed by their GPs. The study also showed that 28 per cent were told that they have a trapped nerve, 10 per cent were told that they have depression or anxiety or stress while 11 per cent were told that they suffered a stroke.
Experts said that there are more than 100,000 people living with multiple sclerosis in the UK and 5,000 are newly diagnosed every year. They said that it is the most common disabling neurological condition in young adults and symptoms starting in the 20s and 30s.
The MS Society has warned that the awareness level remains very low in the country and steps are required to be taken to address the issue. It pointed out that several symptoms are invisible and people might be suffering from numbness, tingling, problems with mobility and balance, vision and dizziness, fatigue, bladder problems, muscle stiffness or pain.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...e-misdiagnosed

[rdmc]

A leading charity in the UK has warned that about 80 per cent of the people suffering from multiple sclerosis are misdiagnosed by the doctors in the country.
A survey conducted by the MS Society of more than 1,500 people with multiple sclerosis found that about 81 per cent were misdiagnosed by their GPs. The study also showed that 28 per cent were told that they have a trapped nerve, 10 per cent were told that they have depression or anxiety or stress while 11 per cent were told that they suffered a stroke.
Experts said that there are more than 100,000 people living with multiple sclerosis in the UK and 5,000 are newly diagnosed every year. They said that it is the most common disabling neurological condition in young adults and symptoms starting in the 20s and 30s.
The MS Society has warned that the awareness level remains very low in the country and steps are required to be taken to address the issue. It pointed out that several symptoms are invisible and people might be suffering from numbness, tingling, problems with mobility and balance, vision and dizziness, fatigue, bladder problems, muscle stiffness or pain.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...e-misdiagnosed

Really interesting Marco. Thanks for posting.

Makes one wonder, if MS is under diagnosed, when/if all those with MS were diagnosed instead of misdiagnosed, would MS still be an "orphan" disease?

I know a lot of us were "misdiagnosed" early on. The article says "pinched nerve" is a common one...I know that one was thrown at me in my limbo days.

[Marco]

Years ago, there was a cadaver study that suggested MS was under diagnosed by 30%. Some lesions are only discoverable post-mortem.