Elected not to have Spinal Tap

Question:

I elected not to have the spinal tap. I went straight to the injection treatment, later I took the oral treatment of prednizone. why do we need the spinal tap?

Answer:

A lumbar puncture is performed to check for special proteins in the CSF called immunoglobulins.  These proteins are produced by something called ‘B lymphocytes’.  B lymphocytes are overactive in the central nervous system of a person with Multiple Sclerosis; therefore a high level of immunoglobulins in the spinal fluid is an indicator of MS. 

Since the advent of the MRI machines many people do not have Spinal Taps.  Some medical insurance companies will not cover a costly MRI unless a spinal tap is done first.