Neurological Disturbances and MRI Report Interpretaions

Hello, I am 29 year old , mother of 2 boys, that keep me very busy This is my first time ever posting a question or comment, butr often to browse the medical blogs mostly find solidarity and assure my self , . I am not crazy. By hearing other stories and experiences, gives me strength as I suffer in silence. I empathize with all those suffering,with not knowing and Knowing is only have the battle .I have been experiencing ,from severe headaches(migraines), Dizziness, Trigeminal Neuralgia,.and the most disconcerning is the Allodynia, where light touch causes pain, when it shouldnt. For example clothing , jewerly, etc.. Just to name a few so many symptoms , I have lost count. not to mention scared and frustrated. IT all began 3 years ago with Joint and Muscles pain in my back and legs. 3 years later, I am progresively getting worse. My Doctor concerned with the sensxory disturbance and being unable to stand with my eyes shut, refered me the Neuro, and sent me off to get an MRI of my Brain. Here it goes .
I apologize for all the grammar error and typos.. hard to concentrate..

Any help with the results will be of greatly appreciated.


MRI/ without COntrast: T1 and T2 weighted images.

Radiologist Findings and or/ Interpretations: ( quick Summary)

Intracranial  flow voids grossly normal.
Cerebellar tonsils, border-line , low lying.
Diffuse Subtle increased white matter signal in a symmetric manner.
no focal lesions.
Deep gray and white matter differentation
Bilateral 5mm parotid nodules, likely lymph nodes.

No focal lesions to suggest  demyleniatign process.

No hydrosheplous. NO midline shaft or masses. no chronic  infarction.
V  cranial nerves and Meckel's cave normal.

They were also some measurement, but cant what is being measured.

Thank you. for listening..

[Londres70]

"Cerebellar tonsils, border-line , low lying".....that is the only thing from the report that stands out.  Sounds suspicious of Chiari Malformation.  

Post in the Chiari forum and get their opinions.  

Did the physician give you an opinion of what he/she thinks it could be?  

MH is a great place to come and discuss your medical concerns.  You don't have to suffer in silence dear.  There are alot of other people here experiencing the same thing you are.  

[ceo83]

THanks, and will do that. I have not see the specialist yet, tomorrow will be
my first appointment.

[Londres70]

Keep us posted dear.

All the best.

[ceo83]

iN SHORT, HE DIDNT EVEN LOOK AT MY MRI IMAGES, SIMPLY GLANCED AT IT. i ASKED ABOUT THE , LOW- LYING TONSILS AND CHAIRI, HE SAID IS NOTHIGN, ALL I KEPT HEARING, IS NOTHIGN, NOTHIGN, THAT WONT CAUSE YOUR SYMPTOMS, BUT YET HE SAID YOUR LOOKS REALLY BAD, BLAH , BLAH, NO DUH!! i CAN BARELY OPEN IT, 4 DX OF TN, YET HE FEELS IS QUESTIONABLE.. YET HE DID DIAGNOSE MY tmjd, i THINK HE IS CONFUSTED, NEUROLOGIST OR DENTIST??? IN SHORT, DEPRESSION CAN BE CAUSING ALL THE PAIN. REALLy??? i AM NOT DEPRESSED.... AFTER 30 MINUTES, HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW ME... WITH A FOLLOW UP IN 6 WEEKS. YEAH RIGHT!! FINDING A NEW NEURO ASAP..

[Londres70]

Dump him and find someone else.  I going to try to put you into the "depression/anxiety" box.  I don't what it is with this physicians nowadays doing that to people.  Granted, there are people suffering from Depression/Anxiety but it just seems if they don't have the answers that start going for the Depression/Anxiety diagnosis.  Tell your referring physician what happened with the Neurologist.  You are going to these specialists NOT for insults, but for answers.  As soon as he didn't look at the images you should have cut the visit short and left as that is a "red flag."  

To Add.....Beware, ALOT of physicians are NOT familiar with Chiari, so if YOU truly want this ruled out you need to see a physician who specializes in this and he/she might not be easy to find.  

TMJ can be diagnosed by a Neurologist or a Dentist, however, your symptoms are not completely matching up to this.  Perhaps you do have this, but it wouldn't explain the symptoms with the joint and muscle pain in your back and legs that you have experienced plus the sensitivity to clothes and jewelry.  

Did he offer any treatment for the TMJ (his diagnosis) or did he just throw this diagnosis out and that was that?  

Next time.....mention NOTHING about Chiari's and especially mention NOTHING about anything you have researched on the internet and see what happens.  Simply let him/her look at the imaging and show him/her the report with the "low-lying" tonsils impression on the report and ask him/her what this means......do this if you have to deal with someone who is NOT a Chiari Specialist.  If he/she is a Chiari Specialist, then you can mention you have concerns about having Chiari related to your report.  

Did you post in the Chiari forum to get their opinion as well?  

This MAY or MAY NOT be Chiari.....I would recommend having it ruled out though.  

[Londres70]

Excuse the typos......my glasses were off   :<)))

My first paragraph should read like this:

Dump him and find someone else.  He is going to try to put you into the "Depression/Anxiety" box.  I don't know what it is with these physicians nowadays doing this to people.  Granted, there are people suffering from Depression/Anxiety but it just seems if they don't have the answers they start going for the Depression/Anxiety diagnosis.  Tell your referring physician what happened with the Neurologist.  You are going to these specialists NOT for insults, but for answers.  As soon as he didn't look at the images you should have cut the visit short and left as this is a "red flag."  

[ceo83]

Yes, that is exactly what I should of done, but I was still somewhat hopeful. Yeah I understand , about the TMJ,, he said , I should get my TMJ checked out.. I ws referred by pcm to TMJ specialist, which I will be seeing Friday... Even though my 2 dentist, dx TMJ already. But unfortunaltely my dental ins. doesnt cover TMJ related issues. Therefore it will fall under the medical insurance.. Going thru the insurance has also been a nightmare!!!

[Londres70]

I saw you have posted in the Chiari forum...great.  

Are you scheduled for an MRI of the cervical spine?

[ceo83]

Yes, I think I post it on CHiari forum as well. I dont know what is my DX, whether it be CHiari or something else.... I can relate symptoms to so many other conditions too. Just right know, I can relate more to CM, with the symptoms and the MRI images, showing possible CM. And is exactly why it should be rule out not dismissed. With so many conditions mimic each other. .. Unless I find a good Neuro,  I guess I will be in Limbo..

[ceo83]

As soon as my office visit, I called PCM, and requested a Second Opinion..

[Londres70]

Yes, it could be something else.....true.  

Did he order an MRI of your cervical spine?  You can see the back of the brain/lower part of the brain with cervical spine images.  

[ceo83]

Yes, on the 30 June. Like I mentioned in the CHiari forum. Cant you see the cervical spine on the Brain Scan or not really?? I hate these MRI's, that does give me anxiety, to be inclosed...

[Londres70]

And YES....you NEED to find a Neurologist interested in investigating what EXACTLY is going on.  

[ceo83]

Yes he did. So you can't see the whole brain, on the Brain MRI?? The cervical MRI, will be beneficial. Only if he actually looks at the images...

[Londres70]

Once again....you can see the BACK of the BRAIN with a Cervical MRI.  If this Neuro ordered this DON'T BRUSH HIM OFF JUST YET!!!!  Get this MRI DONE....REPEAT....GET THIS DONE.   This MRI will image the Cerebellar tonsils better; the part of the brain in question.  Why would you need imaging of your entire brain when you JUST had one?

Perhaps the physician can order a one time dose of xanax or something for the Claustrophobia.  Let someone know you have this BEFORE the MRI.

I don't care for them either.  KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED THE WHOLE TIME.....that worked for me.  As soon as they start putting you in close your eyes and keep them closed until they are done.  

Calm down about this.....THIS IS IMPORTANT.  He is trying to help you if he ordered this.  

[Londres70]

BTW:  Don't go into this physician's office showing any type of anxiety, etc.  Stay as calm as possible.  

[ceo83]

I understand you can see the brain as well, was just confused about the Brain Image Mri, which I have already gone done of course, not showing the brain in its entirety. But regardless, we are on the same now.. LOLZ!! Yeah that is exactly what I do to, my eyes are closed the whole, as you sa they start to wheel me end, Is like being burried alive,, Is what always freaks me out about it.. Im glad, he order it, even though he order it for the making sure is not a neck injury, they really dont listen, do they?// my neck is not the major complain, and if they were to find something, hopefully is just another list to stack on. It reminds me when  Iwent tothe ER for the Jaw pain, and they did xray... amd of course found nothing..   I will never miss that, I understand how important it is... im still getting another Neuro, he is not the right doc for me, ecxpecially with this difficult process at hand... It will take a communication, understanding , compassionate and the knowledge  ... and he lacks does quality unfortunately.. thanks for your advice...take care....

[Londres70]

Get the imaging done and then move on to another Neurologist because it is important for a physician to have compassion, understanding, the knowledge and good communication.  Just seems like great physicians are getting more difficult to find.  

I wish you all the luck and keep us posted.