MRI SPINE

Is it possible for MS to start in the Thoracic or Lumbar Spine? I had an MRI of my head and Cervicle spine that came back clear but now I am being sent for 2 more MRI's of the lower spine.

[essdipity]

It's possible for MS to start in the spine, but not the lumbar spine. MS is a central nervous system disease (brain and spinal cord), and that does not include the lumbar area, which doesn't contain spinal cord.

ess

[neubie]

So you think it is possible for the first lesions to appear on the Thoracic spine?  

[Heather3418]

MS is a disorder (disease) of the Central Nervous System, comprising of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord.  The white matter does not go into the lumbar region of the spine so you would never find an MS lesion there.  The cervical (neck ) and thoracic spine upper back and slightly below are common areas to see lesions from MS or possibly other causes, which even this veteran MS'er is learning.  

Thanks to Quix, I have learned that other disorders can cause lesions in the white matter.  

Have a great St. Patrick's Day,
Heather  

[neubie]

what are other possible causes of lesions?

[Heather3418]

Go the upper right hand portion of the screen and click on Health Pages.  You will see there an article that explains this in full.  You will probably learn much more from that, than I could ever try to write here.  It's an article written by Quixotic1.

Hope it helps you to understand more.  It's all so confusing.

Heather