Brain & C-Spine MRIs Yesterday

[anon07072023]

Hi Everyone,

I went in for another brain MRI yesterday, and they also did a c-spine MRI.  My last brain MRI was about 3 months ago in August.  I had told my MS neuro last time I met with him that I had noticed changes in my memory and attention.  I'm NEVER forgetful, but recently my short term memory isn't functioning like it used to function.  It was definitely enough for me to take notice of it.  

He ordered a cognitive functioning test for me, but the doctor who does them is switching hospitals, so they're not going to start taking appts with him until Jan. 1st.

My new brain MRI shows a new lesion in my frontal lobe that they didn't see 3 months ago.  I think it's interesting that a lot of times you can't really say what your symptoms will be from the location of a lesion.  But this new one is in my frontal lobe, and I looked up frontal lobe functioning and it says that part of its function is memory and cognitive functions.  Which hits it right on the head of the nail for me. (is that expression correct...it doesn't sound right?)

Thanks,
Kelly

[anon07072023]

I think it's all very interesting - your brain, nerves, axons, etc. I think we definitely should have some basic understanding about what's going on in our body.  When I first graduated from HS I was going to go into the medical field, but it's intriguing and gross at the same time - so I opted for another field.  

And I understand what Lulu was saying about how you can have a lesion with no symptoms, and you can have a lesion that just happens to hit the right spot, that will give you symptoms.  
      

[PastorDan]

Saw some correlation between my one notable lesion and the symptoms I had at the time.  It's on the right side, toward the rear of the parietal lobe, near the occipital.  Can't recall the source of the "brain map" I was using to compare, though.  If memory serves (HA!), it was a bit on the old side.  Still, the functions & locations were in rather general form, i.e., as Bob writes, "motor and sensory," rather than saying "a lesion of such-&-such a size in this precise location will cause a buzzing sensation on the top side of the left ankle at 2pm on odd-numbered Tuesdays."

[COBOB]

Matching one lesion to one symptom is a futile exercise. Understanding that parietal lesions can effect motor and sensory; frontal lesions can effects emotions, memory, executive functions, inhibitions; occipital lesions can cause visual changes; cerebellar lesions can cause balance issue and ataxia; and brain stem issues can effect 10 of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, autonomic responses and just about every signal going coming up aor going down the spinal cord.  

I'd never try to match the specific symptom to a specific lesion. But I think we should all have some basic understanding of what part of our brains might betray us next.

Bob
  

[jensequitur]

I have a frontal lobe lesion, and I've definitely got problems with memory and cognitive functions.  But I've learned to work around my problems.

Although you'll find that many lesions and symptoms don't correlate.  I wouldn't try to match them up - it's frustrating, and the MRI doesn't give the complete picture anyway.

[Lulu54]

Hi Kelly, we actually can tell what functions MIGHT be affected by the lesion location. Whether that really happens is another point entirely.  If the lesion affects the right precise spot in the general area then it alters that signal, such as your frontal lobe lesion.

You could have frontal lobe lesions and have absolutely no problem if it didn't touch the right spots.

I know that sounds round-about.  I hope this makes sense.

Lulu