Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: MS symptoms over a decade, clear MRI

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Multiple Sclerosis


My sister has had MS like symptoms over a decade. She suffers from aspiration, muscle spasms that curl her toes into a clench, severe hip pain, spasms of the diaphragm (is on Baclofan for same), difficulty walking at times which would appear mild spasticity, bladder problems. Other smaller symptoms, these are the main.

Skin symptoms - veins on legs which are *starburst*.

She has had clear MRI of spine and brain, including brain flair MRI. ANA elevated but told not high enough to be SLE. Lyme titers negative.

Is it possible this could be MS for all these years and that the MRI would be completely clear, in the presence of very severe and progressive symptoms. No history of any remission, this condition is clearly progressive.


=
Thanks for the question and sorry to hear about your sister. As you know MS patients typically show evidence of plaques on theere MRI scans. It would seems very unusul that with all her symptoms that after 10 years the brain and spine MRI was normal. Her symptoms are not ttypical MS either and sound like she is myelopathic (with her brisk reflexes and spastic problems). It sounds like it would be reasonable to seek a second opinion for this problem. Good luck
This information is provied for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options. If you wish a referral to CCF call 216 444 5559.


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