Annoying symptoms-MRI negative(?)

I had annoying symptoms for 3 days this past week-appeared suddenly, disappeared suddenly.  I experienced the same thing on a few separate occasions thoughout the last couple of years, with slight variability in # and severity of symptoms.  It starts with vertigo and clumsiness in left hand (don't know if related, but my heart rate was also up), and progresses to tingling in left side of face feeling like I'm drooling out corner of mouth (no drooping) left arm and leg tingling and weak/clumsy, and difficulty pronouncing some words.

I have 2 separate MRI reports (got my med recs to change docs--unrelated).  The first report(brain):  "6 mm T2 signal hyperintensity @ R parietal occipital periventricular white matter" and "2 mm focal area of T2 prolongation at splenium of L corpus callosum abutting L occipital horn" "both areas demonstrate no abnormal enhancement".
2nd report (cervical):  "Ill-defined hypointensity @ T1 and hyperintensity at T2 w/ ring of peripheral hypointensity on T2 within left-side of inferior pons."

Neuro said MRI was negative on brain, but the symptoms continue--he concludes it is from a left paracentral protrusion(C5-6 disc herniation).   Another doc (not neuro) disagrees the disc would cause facial/vertigo symptoms but could not offer explanations for sx.

Any ideas what these reports mean?  Suggestions for possible other conditions that cause these symptoms?  Is a third opinion worth it?

I am a 28 y.o. fem with a hx of thyroid dz. and migraines.

Thank you

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Your symptoms are certainly unusual, but there are a few possibilities including basilar migraine and episodic ataxia. Your symptoms may be consistent with a variant of migraine called basilar migraine. Basically this is marked by several hours up to days of vertigo associated with nausea, light-sensitivity, and sometimes other symptoms such as clumsiness. Headache may or may not be present, and this often occurs in people with migraine such as yourself. The treatment is different from that used to treat other migraine types; the treatment in this case is a type of medication called calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, which is actually used to treat blood pressure but works in type of basilar migraine as well.

Another disorder that causes episodes of clumsiness is a genetic disorder called episodic ataxia. However, it would be unusual for this to cause face numbness.

Your MRI findings could be nonspecific, meaning of no clinical consequence. Patients with migraine often abnormalities on MRI that are likely inconsequential. However, given your neurologic symptoms, it is possible they could potentially be related to your MRI changes, I would not be able to know without reviewing your MRI.

I recommend continued followup with your neurologist. Perhaps evaluation during another attack should it occur may help him/her understand your condition if you can be examined during an attack.  

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.