MRI without contrast

Hello-  I have been having MS like symptoms since before Christmas.  It started out with my right leg and foot feeling tingly off and on, each day is different.  By late January I had tingleness in both feet and legs along with muscle spasms (feeling of little rubberbands being snapped under my skin), weak muscles, legs feeling very heavy or like an elephant is sitting on them.  Each and every day can be different and vary quite a bit.  Somedays driving is hard, sitting in one position is hard and standing too long can be hard.  Other days the legs just have weird sensations but don't bother me too much.  Often they are just achey (achy).  I often describe it as if I have just run 50 miles & they just need a break.  Or as if you have held a weight straight out from your arm for an hour and then you want your arm write a novel...etc...  Just very weird.  Anyhow, my neuro refuses to run an mri with contrast.  So far I have had 2 (thank you Kaiser for ordering them incorrectly) and am scheduled for a third on Tuesday.  This one is to check the entire spine.  The first was for the brain and second the neck.  My neuro says it is not neccessary to run with contrast because both my previos mri's have come out clean.  The MRI machine they are using is a telsa 1.5 (I asked) and should be clear enough I was told.  I also had an Visual Evoke that came out normal.  My neuro is assuring me that I don't have ms and has just said he has no idea.  He makes me very frustrated and I feel like he thinks this is all in my head.  I just don't know.  I know that there are many other things that can mimic ms but he just keeps saying he'll look at the mri's but it may just be viral or anxiety driven.  Do you have any advice?  Does and MRI with contrast need to be run to get accurate results this early on?  Thank you for your time!

[Lulu54]

My  real advice is find another  neurologist - one who doesn't want to dismiss your symptoms as anxiety.  You need to know that your doctor is looking you as a legitimate patient and trying to find answers.

Please don't fixate on the lack of contrast for your MRI's.  This is used to show when the disease is ACTIVE - if you have lesions, whether they are older or active, they will show up on your MRI.  The contrast enhanced lesions allow the radiologist to see lesions that are less than 30-40 days old.  

Good luck with the full spinal mri - I hope you get some answers.  If not, hang in there and work on finding a new doctor who will take your symptoms seriously.

be well,
Lulu

[Phoenix177]

Lulu gave some good advice.

It would be very helpful if you break up paragraph. some of us have eye issues and its hard to read big paragraphs.  

[Angie9798]

Thank you so much for your advice.

I have lost all faith in my neuro and so I think you are right!  I am about ready to sit in the ER to see if I can get anywhere that way.  I just need some help.

I am also scared that the symptoms are not going away but progressing a little bit more.  I want to deny that it is happening but it is.  

The symptoms kinda remain similiar everyday but change a little too.  Like yesterday, I felt constant muscle twitches, today I have the feeling of my feet vibrating.  It is so strange!  But lately I feel like I have muscle weakness more than anything.  Like my legs just ran 50 miles and are done!!!

Does any of this sound familiar to you?  How long have you had MS?  I am not sure I do have MS but don't really have any other direction to go with it.  I just wish it would all STOP!!!!!  

[Angie9798]

Thank you so much for your advice on breaking into paragtaphs.

I appreciate anything anyone can offer at this point.  I am completely desperate!