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For the first few days

Just been told you might have MS?

A calm, step-by-step guide for the first days — what is urgent, what is not, and how to get ready for your specialist appointment.

You are almost certainly not in a medical emergency right now. MS is highly treatable, diagnosis is usually quick once the right scan is done, and most people on modern treatment continue to work, travel and live full lives. The emergency notice below is for people experiencing sudden new symptoms right now.

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You’ve just been told you might have MS — what now?

Today

  • Breathe. Most people sent for MS assessment are not in a medical emergency. You have time to make calm, well-informed decisions.
  • If you currently have sudden severe weakness, vision loss, or loss of bladder/bowel control — treat as an emergency and call 000.
  • Ask your GP for a copy of any imaging report and the source images (most providers email a USB or grant portal access).

This week

  • Ask your GP for a referral to a CURA neurologist for MS assessment.
  • If you smoke, this is the moment. Smoking accelerates MS progression and reduces DMT effectiveness.
  • Note down when symptoms started, what they felt like, and any past episodes that might have been MS in retrospect — bring this to your appointment.

This month

  • Book the consultation. Bring: GP referral, imaging USB or CD plus the radiology report, full medication list, Medicare card.
  • With a recent MRI in hand, diagnosis can often be confirmed in one to two visits over two to four weeks. You’ll leave with a written plan and, where appropriate, a treatment recommendation.

Most newly-suspected MS is non-urgent. Acute new symptoms are not — if in doubt, ED first.

Your first appointment

What to expect, and what to bring

A first MS consultation usually takes 45–60 minutes. You don’t need to prepare anything clever — just bring what you have, and a person you trust if you can.

Bring

  • Your GP referral letter.
  • Any imaging on USB or CD, plus the radiology report.
  • The name of the radiology practice or hospital that did any previous scans — if you know the provider we can often log in and view the images directly, so you may not need to track down discs or physical copies.
  • A current medication list (including over-the-counter and supplements).
  • Notes on when symptoms began and any past episodes that might have been MS in retrospect.
  • Medicare card and any private health insurance details.
  • A family member or friend — a second pair of ears is invaluable.

What we’ll do

  • Review your scans and history together with you.
  • Work through whether MS is confirmed, possible, or ruled out — ruling out other causes is part of the process.
  • If MS is confirmed, talk through treatment options and agree a clear next-steps plan with you.
  • Write a consultation letter to your GP so your whole team is kept informed.

Specialist consultations attract Medicare rebates; out-of-pocket fees vary by appointment type — please ask reception when booking. For the full clinical detail on diagnosis and treatment, read the in-depth MS guide.

Book an MS specialist consultation →

Understand MS in depth — what it is, how it’s diagnosed, and how it’s treated.
Already living with MS and want to move your care to CURA?

CURA Medical Specialists — specialist MS care in Drummoyne and Nepean / Penrith, Sydney.