Searching for a Diagnosis

[mel19641949]

I am a 45-year-old women who over the past six months, has been having a myriad of symptoms that are consistent with multiple sclerosis.  While pregnant with my last child 19 years ago, I was diagnosed with optic neuritis.  Approximately 8 years later, I was diagnosed once again.  I had an MRI of the brain at the time and it was negative.  Since I did not have any other symptoms of MS at the time, I did not follow with any other tests.  In the last six months I have suffered with, what I would call equilibrium issues - nausea and vomiting, tripping, bumping into things such as the corner of my dresser, desk, coffee table, etc.  I also had episodes where I would see flashing lights in my vision and my left eye hurt - these was essentially the same symptoms I had while pregnant. During this time, I also ended up being admitted for dysphasia (I was unable to formulate my sentences/thoughts)  This lasted approximately 4 days and resolved completely.  The nausea and vomiting has also subsided (I now take Antivert or Benadryl and Phenerganwhen the nausea hits). However, now I have numbness and tingling in my bilateral feet and hands, my thoracic spine area in my ribs area, as well as a completely numb right great toe.  I also have plantar pain (burning, tearing type) on the bottom of my right foot, and the top of my right foot has an electrical pain when touched.  Last summer my right knee also had the same issue with pain (burning, tearing type pain).  This has since resolved but has left the side of my knee numb.  I am currently in the process of being worked up for MS and have had a brain MRI and MRI of the t-spine, c-spine and l-spine, all with and w/o contrast.  The brain MRI was normal.  However, the MRI of the t-spine showed multiple (5) large lesions at T1, T2, T5, T6, and T10.  The radiologist states that these are "probable" hemangiomas.  There is no nerve root compression, compression fracture, focal protrusions, canal compromise, or foraminal stenosis.  There is some degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine with a "small left paracentral disc protrusion at C6-C7, which does not produce significant canal stenosis or neural foraminal narrowing".

My question is this:  Could hemangiomas cause the problems in both hands, both feet and back?  Is it possible that the findings in the cervical spine could actually be lesions from MS? I realize that both hemangiomas and lesions from MS show has hyperintense foci on MRI and five hemangiomas at different, non-adjacent levels is a rare finding. I do realize that hemangiomas can cause problems, but there are no compression fractures or soft tissue masses in these areas.  The radiologist did say 'probable hemangiomas'...  Could this be something other?

[Quixotic1]

I'm confused.  The hemangiomas seen on spinal MRIs are usually in the bony vertebrae themselves, not in the spinal cord.  Do you know for sure where they are?

Quix

[mel19641949]

Thanks for the help.  No, I know that hemangiomas would not cause all the symptoms I am having.  The strength was 1.5 Tesla for the MRI of the spine.  I have also had issues with my eyesight for years after the original episode of ON.  Whenever I go to the tanning booth, I can't see for the rest of the night (very blurry). Or even when I exercise, it causes similar symptoms of blurry vision.  My clinical indication on the MRI was numbness and tingling in all extremities.  However, there was no mention of possible MS.  Since he had no indication and since it was the thoracic spine that these findings were found in, maybe he just assumed hemangiomas... I am wondering how different these findings would be on film.  I know that they both are hyperintense lesions...

I have had this horrible back pain that will spread from different locations in my upper back (around the bra area) and into my ribs.  Now, I did read that hemangiomas can cause this if there is nerve damage (MRI stated there was no nerve compression)... So I am confused... I work in medical so I usually have a pretty good knowledge of things or at least have the knowledge to find information, but this one has me confused.  

However, I go to the doctor this afternoon and I will get a little more info....

Thanks for your help :)

Hugs - Mel

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum. I'm no Dr. but feel confident in saying the dysphasia and the ON would not be caused by hemangiomas.

Do you know the strength of the machine used for your MRIs of the brain, and spine?

I'm sorry for what you are going through - hope we can help.

-Shell

[jules2212]

Hi Mel,
My name is Julie, sorry i dont have the answer you need i am in limboland myself at the moment. I am bumping your post up and hoping some of our most senior or should that be learned (lol) members might have an answer for you. I hope you get your dx sooner rather than later as you seem to be going through the mill at the moment. Feel better soon Mel and take care.

Best wishes and be well
Julie xx