She spent 18 years believing she had MS. Then her diagnosis changed.
Summary
DeMonica Amerson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001 and received MS treatment for 18 years. After a severe flare in 2019, specialized testing showed she did not have MS; the article excerpt does not name her correct diagnosis.Key Facts
- Doctors initially considered optic neuritis and lupus before diagnosing Amerson with MS after a spinal tap in 2001.
- Amerson used daily injections at first and later switched to monthly infusions delivered through a chest port.
- She worked as a school administrator, raised two daughters and took part in MS advocacy and fundraising.
- During a serious 2019 flare, Amerson experienced fatigue, numb legs, eye pressure and vomiting.
- An on-call neurologist suspected a rare autoimmune disorder and advised Amerson to follow up with her neurologist.
- A specialist's follow-up tests found that Amerson had never had MS.
- A Cleveland Clinic MS center director told CBS News that studies estimate 15% to 20% of people diagnosed with MS are later found not to have it.
- Experts cited overlapping symptoms and misread brain scans as reasons MS can be difficult to diagnose; diagnostic criteria published in 2025 aim to reduce misdiagnosis.
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