Is It Possible To Have MS And Have A Normal Brain MRI?
I have been experiencing MS symptoms for many years and each "flare up" seems more intense and last for longer periods of time (months, rather than weeks). My daughter was diagnosed with MS last year. Some of her symptoms were similar to mine, but her brain MRI showed a few lesions and her LP showed increased protein. She also tested positive for boarder-line lupus. My insurance company has rejected my neurologist's request for an MRI of the spine because of the negative brain MRI.
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Multiple sclerosis is the disease of nervous system. The patient lost his myelin sheath of neuron. Usually in MS patients some lesions are present which are supposed to be related to MS. But there are chances that MS patient show no lesions on MRI. The lesions in MS patient continue to grow and degenerate, It may or may not be present in MS patient on MRI
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Hi cb,
As you may know, MS affects the central nervous system – the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
I too have MS. I had my very first attack in 1988 when my daughter was just 2 years old. My first MRI in 1988 was negative too; the only problem I had was the loss of the central vision in my right eye (scotoma) which lasted for weeks and weeks. Since I didn't have time for such nonsense anyway (and there would be no therapies available for the next 5 years), I just went about my business and didn't worry about it.
I did quite well over the next 18 years, having only minor issues that could be explained away, but in February 2006 I lost all use of my left leg, fell and couldn't get up (giving new meaning to "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!" LOL). I was in the hospital for 6 days on high doses of steroids. My MRI showed lesions on my brain as well as on the cervical and thoracic spinal cord which makes things difficult and quite painful much of the time.
Have you been formally diagnosed with MS yourself? Are you on a disease modifying therapy? When was your last MRI of the brain?
What are your symptoms now, do you have any particular problems with your back, i.e.: Sciatica or the like? (That's what I was being treated for before my final "big fall" in 2006. If there's a legitimate concern I don't see how the insurance company can deny the request.)
I am so very sorry to hear about your daughter's diagnosis. How old is she? Has she begun a therapy? Does she have any outwardly visible signs of the MS? (I walk with a cane and I wear a leg brace for foot drop.)
Please stay in touch I'd really like to talk to you more about this, if it's ok with you. Leave a shout in my box if you like and maybe we can exchange e-mail addresses.
In my prayers,
Jo
As you may know, MS affects the central nervous system – the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
I too have MS. I had my very first attack in 1988 when my daughter was just 2 years old. My first MRI in 1988 was negative too; the only problem I had was the loss of the central vision in my right eye (scotoma) which lasted for weeks and weeks. Since I didn't have time for such nonsense anyway (and there would be no therapies available for the next 5 years), I just went about my business and didn't worry about it.
I did quite well over the next 18 years, having only minor issues that could be explained away, but in February 2006 I lost all use of my left leg, fell and couldn't get up (giving new meaning to "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!" LOL). I was in the hospital for 6 days on high doses of steroids. My MRI showed lesions on my brain as well as on the cervical and thoracic spinal cord which makes things difficult and quite painful much of the time.
Have you been formally diagnosed with MS yourself? Are you on a disease modifying therapy? When was your last MRI of the brain?
What are your symptoms now, do you have any particular problems with your back, i.e.: Sciatica or the like? (That's what I was being treated for before my final "big fall" in 2006. If there's a legitimate concern I don't see how the insurance company can deny the request.)
I am so very sorry to hear about your daughter's diagnosis. How old is she? Has she begun a therapy? Does she have any outwardly visible signs of the MS? (I walk with a cane and I wear a leg brace for foot drop.)
Please stay in touch I'd really like to talk to you more about this, if it's ok with you. Leave a shout in my box if you like and maybe we can exchange e-mail addresses.
In my prayers,
Jo
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Dear Jo,
I hope I am reaching you through an appropriate avenue; I'm new at this site. Isn't it curious that we need to seek advice about our medical questions over the Internet, rather than our "trusted" doctors (and I am a former nurse)? Your response was kind. I have not been formally diagnosed with MS. This is somewhat my fault, because when my brain MRI was negative, my neurologist was about to dismiss me as, "just one of those things", and I didn't pursue the blood tests she ordered (Lyme disease and lupus, which my daughter also has). My current problem began last June when I was packing up my classroom (I teach second grade). I was lifting a heavy box and felt a snap and pull in my mid-back. I thought, oh no; I put my back out again! After the last time I hurt my back (two years early) I was so worried about the pain I may have to endure again (that time I hurt my back in August in a twisting incident. Several months of pain and unable to bear weight on my left leg. No sciatica pain). I scheduled an appointment with my daughter's chiropractor. He was the one who referred her to a specialist, because her (my) doctor told her that her symptoms were depression. Long-story-short, after my problems last June, my chiropractor did an extensive history background and suggested I see a neurologist. When my brain MRI was negative I asked her to investigate the symptoms I have experienced over the past six year, including the physical therapy for pain, numbness, and inability to use my left hand; two incidents of falling (in non-icy weather - June), in which I split the bursa in my left elbow - lost balance in my left leg - again - and a bruised body from upper back to lower legs; most recently I fell down the basement steps (my left leg again), threw my back out again, and was bruised again. I guess I have given up on getting the medical profession to put two-and-two together. Even if I was officially diagnosed, I would seek holistic treatment. Our daughter is only 25 and married last August. She has a wonderful support system. Thank God and modern medicine for the advances in MS treatment. Sarah is not currently on her injections, as she wants to start a family. She has had a couple of steroid treatments to keep her stable. Her physiotherapist has fitted her with a brace, which has made her gait easier to manage (she had several falls this winter, but she has such a positive attitude). Her issues are with her left side also. I guess I have put my search for a formal diagnosis aside because I promised Sarah I would be there to help her after she had a baby (if that happens). The former nurse in me wants to know I'm not off in my diagnostic concerns, and sometimes, when my left foot and hand numbness, tingling, burning, keeps me awake at night, I wonder if I am am a hypochondriac. Thank you for allowing me to express these concerns. I don't like to upset my husband with these issues to much. He is a wonderful person, but we lost our 17 year old daughter a couple of years ago, and with Sarah's diagnosis, we do spend a lot of time dealing with those important issues.
CB
I hope I am reaching you through an appropriate avenue; I'm new at this site. Isn't it curious that we need to seek advice about our medical questions over the Internet, rather than our "trusted" doctors (and I am a former nurse)? Your response was kind. I have not been formally diagnosed with MS. This is somewhat my fault, because when my brain MRI was negative, my neurologist was about to dismiss me as, "just one of those things", and I didn't pursue the blood tests she ordered (Lyme disease and lupus, which my daughter also has). My current problem began last June when I was packing up my classroom (I teach second grade). I was lifting a heavy box and felt a snap and pull in my mid-back. I thought, oh no; I put my back out again! After the last time I hurt my back (two years early) I was so worried about the pain I may have to endure again (that time I hurt my back in August in a twisting incident. Several months of pain and unable to bear weight on my left leg. No sciatica pain). I scheduled an appointment with my daughter's chiropractor. He was the one who referred her to a specialist, because her (my) doctor told her that her symptoms were depression. Long-story-short, after my problems last June, my chiropractor did an extensive history background and suggested I see a neurologist. When my brain MRI was negative I asked her to investigate the symptoms I have experienced over the past six year, including the physical therapy for pain, numbness, and inability to use my left hand; two incidents of falling (in non-icy weather - June), in which I split the bursa in my left elbow - lost balance in my left leg - again - and a bruised body from upper back to lower legs; most recently I fell down the basement steps (my left leg again), threw my back out again, and was bruised again. I guess I have given up on getting the medical profession to put two-and-two together. Even if I was officially diagnosed, I would seek holistic treatment. Our daughter is only 25 and married last August. She has a wonderful support system. Thank God and modern medicine for the advances in MS treatment. Sarah is not currently on her injections, as she wants to start a family. She has had a couple of steroid treatments to keep her stable. Her physiotherapist has fitted her with a brace, which has made her gait easier to manage (she had several falls this winter, but she has such a positive attitude). Her issues are with her left side also. I guess I have put my search for a formal diagnosis aside because I promised Sarah I would be there to help her after she had a baby (if that happens). The former nurse in me wants to know I'm not off in my diagnostic concerns, and sometimes, when my left foot and hand numbness, tingling, burning, keeps me awake at night, I wonder if I am am a hypochondriac. Thank you for allowing me to express these concerns. I don't like to upset my husband with these issues to much. He is a wonderful person, but we lost our 17 year old daughter a couple of years ago, and with Sarah's diagnosis, we do spend a lot of time dealing with those important issues.
CB
I just went through this when suffered complicated migraine and was hospitalized. During Brain Scan, they noticed lesions and based on event, felt might be MS as have familial history. However, despite that I showed physiological changes and symptoms, the diagnosis was changed to a TIA (trans ischemic attack).
I demonstrated many of the same symptoms of MS over the course of years, had lesions but, other tests redirected my diagnosis. Small strokes from clots can show similar episodic situations much like MS. I was diagnosed instead with Antiphospholipid syndrome and Fibromyalgia. You might consider seeing alternate specialists to investigate other causes for the symptoms.
I demonstrated many of the same symptoms of MS over the course of years, had lesions but, other tests redirected my diagnosis. Small strokes from clots can show similar episodic situations much like MS. I was diagnosed instead with Antiphospholipid syndrome and Fibromyalgia. You might consider seeing alternate specialists to investigate other causes for the symptoms.
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