Obtaining a thorough medical history is part of the diagnostic process. A talented neurologist can extract clues during a question-and-answer period with you that may help determine if your symptoms are following a specific pattern. Many people who are diagnosed with MS can remember a time — perhaps a few months or years before — when similar symptoms arose that they ignored. “Well, yes,” they might say, “a few years ago I had numbness in my foot, but it went away after a few days and I didn't think much of it.” Sharing anything significant in your medical history will be very helpful to your doctor. Information from a patient's history can help localize a lesion, and a diagnostic test (such as an MRI) can be directed to evaluate the suspicious area. A complete medical history includes the following:

• Your current symptoms

• Symptoms similar to those you are experiencing that may have occurred in the past

• Past illnesses and the treatment you received

• Past surgeries

• Any accidents you might have had

• Medication use

• Any allergies you have

• Your use of tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drugs

• The medical histories of your family and their causes of death

It's a good idea to come to your appointment with a written list of symptoms, family health history, and other pertinent information. Thinking things through beforehand will ensure that anything important is included in your discussion with your physician.