Cervical Spine MRI

[Corriel]

Hi everyone, I hope the warmer weather is treating you well. I have an MRI coming up in a couple of weeks and it is only my second one. Because of new symptoms in the last year, my neuro has ordered one of the brain and c-spine.

I have read that spinal cord lesions are difficult to see so I am wondering if the chances are that the scan will show something based on my new symptoms:

-hyperreflexia in both arms and legs
-spasticity in both arms (mostly my right arm)
-tingling in fingers
-decreased strength in left hand
-urinary urgency and incontinence
-muscle weakness in arms and legs (mostly on the left side)

These are all new symptoms since my dx a year ago and other than the spasticity in my arms, which is pretty much constant, the rest come and go for a week or so at a time. My first brain scan showed a lot of small perventricular lesions and my two bigger ones were on the occipital lobe and frontal lobe so I don't think they could be causing these symptoms.

I guess I am just wondering if I should expect anything to show or if my sx are just too transient that if there are any lesions on the c-spine that they won't be detectable. I do not know what strength the machine is but I doubt it is more than T1.5-T2.

Thanks!
Corrie

[Corriel]

Thanks guys, all in all I feel decentmost of the time and since my neuro doesn't seem to do neuro exams now that I am dxd, I rely on getting them from a physiatrist every year but her clinic doesn't do any blood tests or imaging tests so I am going on her exam last Dec.  I didn't even know that I had spasticity until she demonstrated my reflexes and asked me to describe how my limbs felt when they were sore and tight.

I go for the scan on June 17 and I will follow up with my GP to get a copy of the results and see if he has any comments.

Thanks again!
Corrie

[kwarendorf]

Hi Corrie -

I agree with DV that it can be challenging to directly tie symptoms to lesion location. I also agree that while 3T is once, it's not necessary. I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago and all of my MRI, brain + c & t-spine, were done on 1.5T machines. All 3 locations showed lesions.

Sorry you're having a tough time,

Kyle

[doublevision1]

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[doublevision1]

I don't know if there's really a way to predict that, Corrie. Your MRI could come back showing new lesions that may or may not correlate to these symptoms.....or, it might not. Some of these symptoms, eg weakness, and I think maybe some urinary symptoms, can be due to lesions in brain OR spinal cord OR both, which may or may not be detected on MRI. Higher strength machine is nice but not required to show all lesions. All my MRIs have been on 1.5T and my last one in particular showed plenty, much to my dismay.

Whether or not these symptoms are detected by MRI, most would be picked up on a thorough clinical exam which ultimately is more important than a bunch of pictures that may or may not correlate to Howe actually feel and function.

Sorry for the new symptoms.....that is always a bummer to have to deal with.