Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Care in Inwood, NY
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the protective coating around nerves in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms differ from person to person and often come and go. We help confirm the diagnosis, rule out conditions that can look like MS, and follow you over time.
Symptoms we evaluate
- Blurred or lost vision in one eye, often with pain when you move the eye
- Double vision
- Numbness or tingling, sometimes a tight, band-like feeling around the chest or stomach
- Weakness, stiffness or heaviness in the legs
- Trouble with balance or walking
- An electric-shock feeling down the spine when you bend your neck
- Bladder changes, unusual tiredness, or trouble thinking clearly
Related conditions we evaluate
Some conditions can look like MS or occur on their own:
- Optic neuritis: inflammation of the optic nerve that causes vision loss and eye pain, and can be a first sign of MS
- Neuromyelitis optica (NMO): a separate condition whose attacks mainly affect the optic nerves and spinal cord
- Transverse myelitis: inflammation across part of the spinal cord that can cause weakness, numbness and bladder problems
How we find the cause
There is no single test for MS. The diagnosis comes from your history, a careful exam, and test results that fit together. Read about each test on our Tests We Do page.
- Open MRI: imaging of the brain and spinal cord through Village Open MRI, a division of our practice, to look for areas of inflammation or scarring.
- VER (visual evoked response): you watch a checkerboard pattern while sensors on your scalp measure how signals travel from your eyes to your brain.
- SSEP (somatosensory evoked potentials): measures how signals travel from your arms or legs through the spinal cord to the brain.
Your care plan
MS care is long-term. Once the diagnosis is clear, we explain your treatment options, help you manage symptoms such as tiredness, stiffness and bladder changes, and see you for regular follow-up. Repeat MRI over time helps track changes.
We keep your primary doctor and eye doctor informed. If you already have an MS diagnosis and want a second opinion, we see patients for that too.
Call us promptly if new symptoms appear, or old ones return and last more than a day.
When to see a neurologist
Sudden vision loss or sudden weakness needs emergency care right away.
For other symptoms, book a visit if:
- You have had blurred vision, vision loss or pain in one eye
- Numbness, tingling or weakness lasts more than a day or keeps coming back
- You have symptoms that come and go in episodes
- An MRI showed spots or lesions in the brain or spinal cord
- You have MS and want a second opinion or a new neurologist
Insurance
We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Please see the plans we take, or call us to confirm your coverage.
Other conditions we treat
Visit Five Towns Neurology
Our office is at 233 Doughty Blvd, Inwood, NY 11096, in southwest Nassau County. Call (516) 239-1800. Hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 2pm. We are closed on Saturday.
Allow at least 3 hours for your first visit. It includes a full history and physical exam, and testing is usually done the same day when possible. Bring your medications, past test results and MRIs, your insurance card, and a referral if your plan needs one. Read about your first visit or contact us to book.