Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

MRI results and very worried about MS - please advise

I met with my neurologist yesterday to discuss what he described as "nonspecific white matter changes" in my brain on a brain MRI with contrast. When we'd talked on the phone before the appointment, he didn't seem to think he would be doing additional tests immediately, and he said he didn't think the white matter changes fit any pattern for any specific disease, which I'd thought was a good sign. But by the time I had an appointment two days later, he had decided to go ahead with an MRI of my cervical spine and some evoked potentials testing.

My symptoms have been one (maybe two) episode of very temporary double vision, some dizziness, some tingling in the back of my neck and head, visual migraine symptoms (zigzag lines in periphery) that started this past November and only happen once every few weeks for about 30 minutes, with no headached), and very slight tingling in my left hand and left foot. I had a previous period (off and on for two months) of dizziness/lightheadedness about a year ago that at the time was attributed to my mild bradycardia and low-ish blood pressure. NONE of my symptoms have been very dramatic -- all have been subtle and possibly explained by other things.

Anyway, I'm now terrified. It looked as though I had at least 5 or 6 spots on my brain MRI -- I don't know the size of the spots b/c it wasn't a full-sized image. I did not get a written report, either (didn't think it advisable given that I'm likely to try to interpret it myself using Dr. Google).

What I want to know is this: how often does it happen that these abnormalities or changes or whatever appear on a brain MRI but don't indicate MS? Has that happened to anyone here? What if someone has that many spots (not just one or two) -- does that necessarily mean it's more likely that they have demyelinating disease?? I know the cervical MRI and other tests will tell me much more. But they aren't for two weeks, and i'd like somethign else to go on.

PLEASE share either any medical knowledge or personal experience that might help me get through this.

Thanks!!!! So upset.
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi,
Did you ever get results of further testing.  I am having similar MRI results and I'm worried, Many Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You are very kind and generous to take the time to respond to worried strangers on this forum. I am quite grateful! You've made me feel a bit more relaxed for the time being.
Helpful - 0
368886 tn?1466235284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello.

Actually, you duration of symptoms is short. But the vascular problems may have been ongoing since a long time, and now they have come up to a level where they can produce symptoms.

Migraine is the first differential. The second differential for the MRI findings could be "normal". I am not saying that you don't have any problems. But, at least the MRI findings may be unrelated to your symptoms. Let us wait for the evoked potentials test and spine MRI.

Regards
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much for responding, Dr. Deshmukh!

Could migraines that only started so recently (4 months ago, tops) still cause several different lesions scattered about my brain? That is, is my history long enough for such damage to have occurred?


Helpful - 0
368886 tn?1466235284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello.

The symptoms and signs that you have are not specific for MS. Multiple Sclerosis is a diagnosis of exclusion. When you fail to identify any other cause, you should think of MS.

Very often, the MRI picture described by is seen in Migraine headaches, or even may be normal. Migraine is a vascular disease. Over the years, if you have had migraines, not necessarily headaches, small blood vessels at some focal points fail to supply blood to the brain tissue, which dies. These focal points are small, and do not cause much clinical symptoms.

From your symptoms, I would think of Migraine as a major differential to MS. The zig zag visual phenomenon is quite typical of migraine.

Regards
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Neurology Community

Top Neurology Answerers
620923 tn?1452915648
Allentown, PA
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease