Normal MRIs

[Tambone]

Here's a question for the folks out there that have been diagnosed with MS:

How long did you have "normal" MRIs before anything started to show up on the imaging? I've had 4 clear MRIs so my neurologist is very confident that we can rule out MS.

[Tambone]

I checked and my health plan's radiology department uses 1.5 Tesla Machines.

I did have a spinal last October. The result came back as "borderline".  

[MostlyShell]

I have seen discussions about the weight of the magnets on the MRI machines.  What was yours?  
The reason I ask is because my first MRI was done on a T2 (I believe) and showed lesions but not enough for a diagnosis.  My second was done through an MS clinic but on a lower weight and showed no lesions.  My third was done with stronger magnets a year later and showed many lesions (enough finally to meet McDonald criteria).  
I wish I had known about the weights at that time.
Have you also had an LP?
MostlyShell

[Tambone]

I believe 3 of the MRIs were of my head and one was cervical spine. Here's my long list of symptoms:

blurred vision/dry eyes
occasional head/neck pain/pressure
sharp random pains throughout body
tingling/numbness
muscle twitches
vertigo
waves of nausea
feeling of lump in throat
shakiness/weakness in legs
stiff joints

My first concern was MS as my grandfather had it.

[essdipity]

Hi, Tambone.

I've never had a 'normal' MRI. The question always was, what is this abnormality? For years it wasn't attributed to MS.

So I don't think there's any one answer, or any average that would tell us anything. People are so different. If your brain MRIs, done under MS protocol, have been consistently normal, the probability of MS grows less, as you know. Have you had MRIs of cervical and thoracic spine? What are your symptoms?

ess