MRI Negative results

Had been having some vague, mild symptoms such as: very mild tingling in hand, smelling things that nobody else did, and visual problems like scatoma and headaches.  Doctor thought is was MS and sent me for an MRI and results are: Several scattered non-specific T2 hyperintense foci in the subcortical white matter of the R and L frontal and Parietal lobes.  Had a LP which was negative, blood work was all negative and Evoked potentials were also negative.  So at this point i have no idea what is going on and that is scaring me.  Does all the negative tests definately rule out MS?  If so . . then what else can cause these brain lesions? What kind of problems will these lesions cause me?

Thanks in advance for your help?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Please keep in  mind that it is extremely difficult if not impossible to comment on an MRI that I have not personally reviewed. Your age, clinical history, sex, medications, other medical problems are also important pieces of information needed for an accurate comment.  What I can say is that if you are young with no stroke or heart risk factors such as diabetes, smoking history, cholesterol problems, etc... and these lesions are prominent, you will need further workup as to figuring out what these lesions are. Blood work to look for clotting abnormalities that would cause little mini strokes, rheumatological/autoimmune diseases such as lupus, lyme disease, syphilis, and other less common conditions such as sarcoids. If you are older with history of cardiac/stroke risk factors, then these could represent tiny silent strokes. The negative test results do NOT completely rule out MS, but it does force the physician to look at the case more carefully and make sure it's nothing else that could mimic MS. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. Good luck.

[lil sunshine]

Hi I read your question and what popped out to me was the smell thing. I too have brain lesions and I am 41 ,{can one assume that you are 35 by your 66 in nickname?} but no diagnosis of anything. I have the numbness, tingling, have seizures {although not since July} double vision in the dark, headaches and even left sided nunmbness. I thought I had a stroke but had been having what I call vibrations in my body.

Back to the smell thing. Last year I noticed a smell coming from our water faucets. No one else did and believe it or not but the Water Co sent someone to analize our water.  I also smell this smell l;ike rubber or something wierd on my skin. I don't know if it has anything to do with the metal allergies I am experiencing having to do with my limb salvage prosthesis. I researched and found where they have said that Cobalt allergies/ poisoning has been known to cause MS. I am dealing with my leg problem but need to go back to Neurology to talk about this new development.

I hope that you get some answers soon.
bonnie

[britt66]

Thanks for your reply "lil sunshine". This is my first time posting and it's good to know there are people out there with the same kind of problems.  Sometimes i feel my Dr thinks i am crazy!!!

[tlpounds]

I began smelling things that weren't there about 1 year ago.  Since then I have discovered that these are called olfactory hallucinations.  I have been diagnosed with white matter disease pending a spinal tap (my MRI shows a 90% chance of MS).  The olfactory hallucinations (from what my neurologist indicates and the research that I have conducted) are usually caused by seizures.  I never realized I was having seizures and can only assume they began from the lesions.  The smell was an awful smell like a skunk - only worse (maybe a burned skunk that had been dead for a month in a closed up area!)

I know what you mean about thinking you're crazy.  I hesitated going to the doctor because my husband always joked with me (I would always ask him if he could smell it) and he would say it was on my upper lip.

From what I've read, MS is extremely difficult to diagnose, and you can have a completely normal MRI and still have it.  If you are not confident with your neurologist's opinion, you may want to get a second opionion.  Good luck - and remember that even if it is MS, many people live completely normal lives and never know they have MS.

[britt66]

I smell  . . . Urine!!  of all things!  Very strong odour . . usually in the middle of the night or upon waking.  Makes me wonder how many other people experience the same thing and don't associate it with MS.

[jan]

I have 1 brain lesion. I have been told is a stroke, but have also been told I have many MS symptoms.  I started, not long ago, having seizures due to this lesion.  With the seizures I developed parathesias on right side of my body.
I have read about the olfactory hallucinations, too, and their being seizure symptoms.

Here are a couple of sites that may help, the 1st is a link to an epilepsy forum and the 2nd to an MS forum.  Both are really nice groups.  

http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Epilepsy&number=33&DaysPrune=

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FriendsWithMS/

I hope these are a help to you.

[JoBug]

Your brain scan results are very interesting. I also had a similar scan and health experience. Have you examined your environment? I had a very well documented exposure to aspergillus (aspergillosis), pencillium, alternaria and stachybotrys in a  poorly ventilated room. These are  fungi that can cause allergies and various health effects in humans. Some of the toxins produced by these fungi are reported to be neurotoxic. Notice I said "reported to be." The research and studies are not quite there yet regarding these more serious health effects. There is a fair amount of research regarding the respiratory effects of exposure to such molds. It is my understanding that the CDC will be funding research into this area of environmental exposures.
     People react differently to fungal exposure and the reported health effects are idiosyncratic, which makes diagnosis very difficult. Some people may not react at all. You might want to look at your surroundings and check if there has been any water intrusion into your home or workplace. There is also an interesting web page to check out at www.themoldsource.com
     Good luck, I hope you get some answers....

[t_anunson]

I`ve had some dull light pain behind the right eye for a couple of days. Have always had "shotty" vision, change glasses frequently. But don`t seem to have any major visual problems. What is usually the 1st sign of optic neuritis associated with MS?