Question about MRI-Scared

[reneetami]

I have been having severe headaches over the last 2 months or so along with blurred vision and eye pain. This is what caused the PCP to order a MRI.  Have had spells of falling over the last 2 yrs. And lately,  numbness and tingling in my extremities, major fatigue, a crawling sensation on my skin, "pins and needles" sensations on my scalp and forearm, pinkie and ring finger on right hand going numb, eye twitching for days, and numbness in my cheek and nose. I am also having trouble remembering things.
The PCP is sending me to a Neurologist but it is not for 2 months. Part of me wonders if I even need to go.
This is what the MRI showed: the MRI was done w/o contrast. Everything was pretty much unremarkable , no evidence of edema (CVA). On the flair sequence there are a few small focal areas of increased signal in the periventricular and supraventricular white matter.
Opinion: 1.Mild Periventricular Leoukoaraiosis. Differential diagnosis for this age group includes previous sheer axonal injury, vasculitis, MS , among others,
                2. Mild Atrophy.

I am a 40yr old female. Since posting this a week ago, I have been having issues with a pins and needles almost painful sensation on my scalp top of head and at other times it feels as if bugs are crawling under the skin on my scalp if that makes sense. It has also started to happen in my face/cheek area.

[Lulu54]

Greetings and welcome to the forum here.  I am glad to hear your PCP is being proactive and has referred you on to the neurologist.  This is an important next step for you.  Please do not cancel this appointment.

Yes, facing this prospect of MS is scarey so let me share a few facts-
MS no longer is a disease where you are destined to end up in a wheelchair or worse.  Advances have been made in drug therapy over the past 20 years that have changed the quality and quantity of life for us.

People with MS live as long as the non-MS population.  It used to be 7 years less on average.

People with MS who are on disease modifying drug therapy has a very real chance of never needing to use a walker or wheelchair in their life.  The drugs are known to delay the progression of disability in MS.

People with MS can and do lead full lives professionally and personally - they have careers and family.

People with MS are faced with lots of challenges, but there are a wealth of rersources available to help us with this disease.

I hope something I've said here helps to take the edge off of being scared.  The best thing you can do to control the fear is learn as much as you can about MS and be prepared to make the most of your appointment with the neurologist in two months.  It will be here quicker than you might think.

In the meantime I hope we will see you around often.
be well, Lulu

[HVAC]

Unfortunately the only professional to sort this out is a Neurologist. It is normal to take months to get into see one. It is also normal for it to take awhile and possibly a bunch of testing to figure out what is going on. Neurologists generally track things over time. Usually in six month intervals. I did not understand this and got very angry and scared.

You might look at the health pages at the top right of your screen under discussion there is a wealth of information there.

It all seems overwhelming that is what we are here for. We have people who have been diagnosed. Some with MS some other diseases. We also have many more folks in the process of trying to find out what is wrong.

Neurological symptoms are complicated. It is not like other diseases where you take a few tests and quickly get an answer. Sometimes it works that way but often it does not.

I understand your fear. I have been there. In the end I got myself more worked up then I needed to be. I was a basket case.

Alex