MRI - MS

[feelOlderThanILook]

I went to the doctor because I have numbness/sharp pains/tingly pins/burning sensation in my hands, feet, and legs.  Then within the last couple of months I started to have problems with speech (I knew what I wanted to say but it didn't always come out the way I thought, I have problems finding the right words to say and spelling simple words), memory loss, walking.  These problems didn't happen all at once and would go away after a few weeks, except the speech and memory loss.  I was tested for Lupus about two years ago (when stuff started) and it came back negative.  The doctor said that the numbness after exercising was probably circulation and would go away but never did. I had an optic nerve test at my eye doctor and he said I had a optic pallor and I needed to see a my doctor.

[essdipity]

Hi. I'd say that at least for now, your MRIs show no obvious indication of MS or any sort of demyelinating disease. So in that sense you'd be in the clear.

I'm not so sure about symptoms arising from degenerating cervical spine (neck) issues. Without being MS and thus showing demyelination, these irregularities could possibly be causing pressure on your spinal cord, which in turn can lead to symptoms. I certainly don't know this for sure, and your post doesn't quote the Impressions section of the radiology report. Your best bet is to consult your neurologist directly. Good luck.

[aspen2]

Keep us posted, and I'm glad you are having the sleep study done :).

[feelOlderThanILook]

Thank  you all so much!! This has brought me to ease.  But if it's not that then I hope they don't just dismiss it like they have done in the past.  Here lately I've been so embarrassed just to be at work functions because my hands shake so much.  If I'm sitting down resting my hands I'm fine but the second I pick up a pen to write or extend my arm to grab something it starts to shake. :'(

I have a follow up tomorrow. :) Getting results before you talk to your doctor is really hard.  Especially for someone like me that needs to understand everything.

Sleep study is in the works. :)  Because I have had insomnia (or "Sleep Anxiety") since I was in my late teens (30 now).

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

Unfortunately Dr Google doesn't really know the difference between sensory issues caused by wearing the wrong shoes to sensory issues caused by bone cancer, type in just about any symptom and MS will usually come up because MS is a central nervous system disease......as aspen mentioned MS wouldn't typically present in all peripheral limbs (hands, legs, feet) so odds are you're actually more likely dealing with something else.

The centrum semiovale is basically the white matter at the center of each cerebral hemisphere, so if your MRI report doesn't mention anything other than the 1 single non specific T2 lesion, it could be from many things or nothing at all. In regards to MS, MS wouldn't be the most likely explanation because there isn't anything to distinguish it from the more common ischemic vascular ones and if there isn't a size or anything else mentioned it usually means it's pretty tiny.

You've got some structural C spinal issues happening but it mostly sounds mild or early degenerative disc disease to me, the "C6-7 2mm central protrusion indents the thecal sac" 'maybe' something relevant to your peripheral sensory symptoms.

The 'thecal sac' is a membrane around the spinal cord, so it might be possible that the small protrusion thats indenting the thecal sac is irritating the peripheral nervous system but it doesn't mention stenosis (narrowing), so the cord isn't more obviously being compressed so that's just a guess.

In regards to MS, there was only 1 non specific lesion found, no spinal cord lesions but some structural issues which may or may not be relevant, you don't mention any clinically abnormal neurological signs but neurological conditions like MS wouldn't typically be the most likely explanation for those types of MRI findings.

I too would suggest you get a boat load of blood tests and consider your sleep quality, hope they find out what's going on and you get better soon!

Hope that helps......JJ  

[aspen2]

Interesting brain lesion location, however Non specific means not suggestive of ms -- could be caused by a multitude of things.

Yes your spine is clear, save for some degenerative changes.  You will want to check to see if those might explain some of your issues.

I definitely feel you should ask your gp to send you for a sleep study, even if you think you sleep well.  Poor quality sleep can affect cognition and cause other neurological symptoms.

Have you had a boatload of bloodwork?  Vascular, metabolic, screen for vitamin deficiencies (in particular D, b12, magnesium).  

All these symptoms, when googled, come up with ms. ms symptoms aren't specific to ms but you will see lots of them in pwMS (persons with MS).  MS generally doesn't start out all over (hands, legs and feet) as you have described.

Do you have a follow up
Appointment with a neurologist?  He or she will be better able to explain than us non-docs.

Best wishes and keep us posted!