White matter lesions

Hello,  I have an underactive thyroid.  An MRI was ordered for my adrenal glands and also of the brain due to some dizzy spells that I was having.  My MRI came back bad.  I had several areas of white matter lesions.  I know that the corpas collasum was spared.  I think they were in my subcortical area.  I am 43 next month.  I have never had a symptom that I know of.  I am an extreme kind of athlete.  Snowboard all day long and then hit the gym for a spin class kind of girl.  I went to a neurologist who said that he felt that I did not have MS.  I passed the neurological exam and never had any more tests done.  Each time I have a headache or feel a little off I panic and think of MS.  I hate that I had the MRI done.  Now I will always be afraid.  Is it possible to have white matter lesions and be healthy?  I did take some hits in the head when I was a little girl.  

[Quixotic1]

Stay Happy!  You present the opposite of what we usually hear here.  Yes, it is well-known that many people collect white matter lesions as we age.  These are especially seen as we enter our 40's.  When they are discovered by doing an MRI for other reasons, then they are called "normal for age."  For your description I can't tell how numerous or large your lesions are.  If you have never had neurologic symptoms and your exam is normal there is little reason to worry about things.  Worrying about whether or not you will develop MS is non-productive and robs you of the obvious pleasure you have in your very active life.  It is akin to worrying about whether you'll plunge headlong into a tree as you snowboard tomorrow.  That risk is probably greater, but I'm sure you don't dwell on it.

The only caveat I would offer is that dizziness IS a neurologic symptom.  Now, most often it is secondary to a problem in the inner ear, which would not be indicative of MS.  If the dizziness continues, I would recommend an evaluation by a neuro-otologist - a specialist in balance and equilibrium.  There are forms of episodic dizziness which are quite curable, with non-invasive manuevers.  You can locate such a specialist by going to the VEDA - VEstibular Disorders Association at "vestibular.org".  On their site you can search for a provider.  Such an evaluation can also determine if the dizziness is peripheral (inner ear) or central (brainstem - and possibly from a disorder like MS).

Final Answer --- YES, it is possible to be totally healthy and to have white matter lesions.  "Don't Worry.  Be Happy!"  :)

Good luck, I envy you your joy in movement.

Quix, MD (retired and not a neurologist)