Waiting for dx ...request opinion

[Yond]

I had my 3 hour long MRIs today. They were done in an enclosed machine as I requested. They did head, upper and lower spine-no contrast. (sorry I dont know all the technical terms for them)

I know they are checking for MS but I really don't think I fit the profile.

I am 45 years old (older than most dx)
I am overweight ( I hear most people are thin or have lost weight but I have gained)
Numbness and tingling/buzzing from toes to thighs and fingers to upper arms.
sore tongue (never even heard of that with ms)
urinary incontinence
itching..itching..itching
muscle cramps in my calf, feet, and believe it or not my stomach...not in my abdomen but on my abdomen like my skin its wierd.
"jumpy/twitchie" muscles
recenty increased number of headaches
muscle spasms across lower back after short periods of walking or standing.

Do these things even remotely sound like ms?

[Heather3418]

See I told you that I was not an expert.  It sure did look like they had injected contrast dye on the films that I saw on your profile.  Let's say then, that they showed a high flair signal.

Heather

[Yond]

Thank you for your response. I am getting more and more frustrated as the days go by. I am guessing you looked in my pictures to see my MRI. The pain is getting pretty intense since the only thing I have for it is Over the counter. I am using tylenol and ibuprofen. I do have a script for Parafon Forte 500 3x a day it really doesn't seem to help much. But with the holidays and all its like pulling teeth to communicate with the Dr.

thanks for the well wishes,

Have a great Holiday.

Cyndy

[Heather3418]

I am not an expert in reading and understanding MRI's.  For sure.  But one thing I DO know, after all the MRI's I have had over the past 13 years, your areas of problems DID enhance after the injection of dye.  This will NOT happen unless there is a "hole" in the membrane that sourrounds our Central Nervous System.  So what does your radiologist say about that?  What does he say has caused that "leak" in the CNS?

You DO have some serious impingements in your spinal cord and narrowing.  I can only imagine the pain that you are going through. The cerebral hemisphere is a very common area to see MS lesions.

I am puzzled by your radiologist. I do not happen to agree with him in everything that he says and keep in mind that I am only a layperson with MS.  But I am not blind. His interpretation is a little lacking in MY opinion.

Big Hugs dearheart,

Heather

[Lulu54]

Hi Yond,
We just can't resist taking a peek  - it's human nature and I know because I have my MRI pics too and can't make heads or tales out of them.  When do you see the neuro again to get the official interpretation of these results?

Wondering,
lulu

[Yond]

Got my MRI disc and report today (I picked it up from the radiology dept so haven't even spoken to Dr about it yet.

lol should probably waited until the Dr. gave me the results instead of picking them up and looking at them blind.

Here is what it said.

A high Flair signal intensity 2mm lesion is seen in the white matter of the right cerebral hemispheric of no clinical significance. A single abnormal high Flair intnesity in the right cerebral hemisphere does not suggest a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Cervical spine sequences Sagittal T1, T2, stir, T2*, Axial T2*
No other high T2/Flair intensities are seen in the white matter region adjacent to the ventricular system or the corpus callosum.
C5-6 A large right central paracentral disc protrusion is seen conpressing the ventral aspect of the spinal cord and mild narrowing at the origin of the nephrolith speeded.
Aside from the degenerative disc disease at the c5-6-7  no abnormal signal intensity is seen within the cord.

Minimal airspace disease is seen involving the right mastoid air cells.

[Lulu54]

Welcome to the MS forum - a great place to meet up with wonderful people and ask all your questions.  Your list looks a lot like MS to me - I was just dx'd this year and I'm 54 so your age doesn't rule you out.  Even the headaches are familiar - mine are more like dull throbs that come and go.  Just when I think I should take something for them they stop.  Someone just asked about the itchy skin a few days ago here. And yes I am overweight too but trying hard to change that.

I won't go on - let's just say your list says it could very possibly be MS.  I'm sorry they did the MRI without contast but at least they are looking at the right places.

Have you had blood work done yet to look at the MS mimics?   You might want to read our health pages and learn more about the things that are looked at while working on an MS dx.  It can be very slow and extrememly frustrating as you will see if you hang out here long enough.  

I hope you will come back often and keep us informed as to how you are doing.  

We care, Lulu

[Yond]

Thank you for your comments I appreciate being able to talk to people about this who don't think I am being a hypochondriac.

To answer your questions I have had blood tests.
Negative for B12 deficiency
Negative for thyroid issues
Negative for adrenal issues
Yes this is my first MRI (anyone know how long it takes to get results?)

[meg321]

Hi, well, i am 65 and not dx'd yet, but if i do have it, i have had it for a long time. I know looking back i have had many of these symptoms a long time. Which can happen.
I have had most of your symptoms, all of them really, including headaches.

hugs, meg

[saveone]

The sore tongue is what caught my attention.  I have had that and later found out I was anemic.  MY HGB was 8.3 and my ferritin level was 1.  The sore tongue is a symptom of anemia as are some of the other symptoms.  But beware I am anemic and I have "Possible MS", demylenating disease or white brain matter disease or whatever you want to call it, point being you can have more than one condition.  Also I am 49 and this past August was the first time MS was ever in the picture.

B12 deficiency can cause many of your symptoms.  Have you had any blood work t rule out MS mimics?  Was this your first MRI?  If so you will get more information i.e. are there lesions on your brain or spinal cord? As for weight I do not know of it being connected to MS.  Since Aug I gained 8 pounds.

I am sure there will be more knowledge ppl along to answer your questions.  You might also want to check out the health pages.  Go to the top of hte page on the right side and click the health pages icon.

glad to have you join us and keep us informed of your MRI results.

Happy Holidays

tery

[jensequitur]

I've heard of people with sore tongues and MS - burning tongue is what they call it.  The only thing that doesn't sound familiar is the headaches.