Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

MRI

I had a MRI that showed the following:
Scattered deep sub cortical white matter foci of signal abnormality primarily within both parietal lobes.  with relatively minimal per ventricular white matter signal abnormality is seen adjacent to the bodies ob both lateral ventricles.  a single focus of superficial sub cortical white matter signal abnormality is seen within the sub cortical white matter of the right post central gyrus.  additionally there are ill defined foci of white matter signal abnormality within the crossing fibers of the pons.  I don't understand any of this just that there is a lot of talk of abnormality and of white matter.  
The impression says:  there are nonspecific foci of deep sub cortical and superficial sub cortical white matter signal abnormality.  The pattern and distribution of these lesions is not typical of MS.  Additional foci of white matter signal abnormality are seen involving the crossing fibers of the pons and this most likely is postischemic in etiology.
I had this MRI done 2 years ago but the neurologist never called me back so I just decided everything was ok and didn't want to know the results.  I had an earlier MRI done about 4 years ago which showed a few white spots in the pons area but that was all.  I was told that at that time if it was MS it was an extremely mild case.  Since then some of the symptoms I was having came back hence the second MRI.  
For the past year I have been getting steadily worse with some of my problems.  I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.  My symptoms are:  Memory problems, concentration and coordination difficulty, weakness and mild tremors in my hands,  burning numbness and tingling in my legs (I have had this problem for years), vision difficulties, sometimes i stutter and can't get what I want to say to come out. I am so tired sometimes I get tired just breathing. I hurt everywhere  and bladder control.  I had some of these symptoms the first time I went to the doctor but they got better.  Now they are back and getting worse.  
  
This is hard because I used to remember everything, work out all the time, sew, read a book a day and have a job.  Now it is hard to do anything.  What I need to ask is if these are just normal symptoms of RA or are they more in line with MS.
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1252074 tn?1271541709
I'm not an expert, but I know you are your own best advocate, it's time to call your doctor and get back into see him, I'm personally in limboland also, but I've jumped on my own bandwagon and am beating my own drum, since then, my primary doctor is agreeing with me about finding out what is wrong.

My problems started in 2007 (I remember the exact day, b/c that's the same day I lost my job)

Right now, they aren't sure what is going on, I'm one of the 15% of RA patients who don't display the RF in my blood,  when my problems started, my WBCs and platelet count was 3 times normal, but they couldn't discover where this problem was coming from.

Welcome Back!  I too experience many of your symptoms, the newest for me began 2 days ago, when I began experiencing sharp pain shooting through my right eye from bright light.  (I also had a grand mal that day so not sure if that's MS related or not either)
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
These symptoms are in line with neurological problems, but not necessarily with MS.  To get an idea of what the radiologist looks at to diagnose MS, you should take a look at this website:

http  ://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/4556dea65db62

You can see that the lesions associated with ischemic damage are a little different from those associated with MS.  Ischemic damage tends to be sub-cortical.  

This doesn't mean that you don't have MS, or that you do.  It just means that it's hard to say at this time.  I would continue to talk to the neuro and at least receive treatment for your symptoms, even if you can't get a diagnosis at this time.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease