lesions and symptoms

[skarey]

Hey,
  I was just curious about lesions and the symptoms they produce.  Do lesions on the spine produce different symptoms than those in the brain.    If so, what symptoms do the brain lesions cause and which do the spinal lesions cause??  
   Thanks,
   skarey

[Lulu54]

P - I hope you will start a brand new thread with your questions.  This is a very old conversation and has some problems in the information presented.  You have lots of good questions in here and I'll wait to respond until you start that new thread.

I'll be watching........  Lulu

[Cody01581]

Hello

I have a new friend and found out she has MS. She keeps telling me its not as bad as everything I read on the internet. All I know right now is what she tells me and that is 30 lesions on her brain with hardly any relapses for the last 5 years and she was diagnosed 7 years ago with it. I think what i'm asking, Is she being a trooper or is the above description a need to worry for her where she isn't and could she be in pain where she acts like she isn't? I'm thinking she may be covering it up in fear of me leaving. This would not happen as an FYI.



any help would be gratefully appreciated



P

[Lulu54]

Hi Monica,
You have posted on a very old thread and might not get many responses here.  Would you mind copying this and start a new thread?  Also, weekends are slow around here so you might not get a response until later this week.

As for  the shingles - no shingles are not at all related to lesions.  Shingles are a form of the herpes virus (so are chicken pox!) and not a central nervous system disease.

I'll watch for your new post.  Welcome to the forum.

be well, Lulu

[monicamock]

I had terrible pain in the left side of my neck that began on 12/21.  I went to a spinal (ortho) doctor who ordered a cervical spine MRI to determine if I had a herniated disc (C6 area of pain).  About 2 weeks later I started getting horrific pain in my left arm, which erupted into shingles in my neck and left arm.  The pain was so horrific.  I went to my internal doc who referred me to a neurologist.  In the meantime the MRI showed a lesion (C2-C4).  I then lost of use of my left arm entirely (on Jan. 1).  It was like a dead limb.  The spinal doctor ordered an MRI w/contrast.  Yes, I still had a lesion.  Now what?  No one knows what's causing the lesion.  I've had blood work done as well which turned up nothing.  Neurologist wants to do another MRI in about 3 months to see if the lesion has changed, but won't suggest any causes.  My arm is better but fingers are numb and arm still quite painful.  Is it the shingles?  Was the shingles triggered by the lesion?  Did the shingles cause the lesion?  

Thanks - Monica
Leesburg, VA

[marisb]

The first lesion that was found on me was in the c-spine. It was found by a spine specialist looking for pinched nerves. He told me to see a neuro. I did and got my dx of MS + FMS.

Since then I have only done MRIs ofnly of my brain and c-spine. I'm wondering if I should ask my neuro for that? If we find more lesions in my spinal cord, will I stay on the same treatment (Betaferon)?

Thanks for any answers you might come up with.

Peace & Serenity,
Maris in Israel

[Quixotic1]

Karey, there is very little hard and fast answer to your questions, especially in the brain.  We only use about 10% or so of our brains.  The rest is pretty quiet.  When the lesions fall into the areas we use, and if they are large enough, they can be seen to be the cause of the problem.  Most lesions are in areas of the brain that don't show physical symptoms if they are damaged.

However in the spine, all the nerves have purpose and activity.  They all carry signals to the body to do something or they cary information from the body that say something.  Lesions in the spine are far more likely to be obviously symptomatic.

Brainstem lesions are considered part of the spine and they are usually, but not always the cause of central vertigo, you were almost right IUMOM.

Karey, you should read the stuff on this website.  It is a great and readable overview of MS.

http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/diagnosingms.html
Quix

[IUMOM2]

I think this is one of those questions that can have varying answers. I've read that there isn't always a strong correlation between lesion location and symptoms.

For instance, I always thought that bladder trouble would have to be caused by lesions in the spine, but they aren't always. Sometimes lesions in the brain can cause problems with the bladder.

Some lesion locations might be more likely to produce certain sx (brain lesions would cause dizziness, not spinal lesions).

I'm sure Quix will come along with the right answer soon.

[EL18]

Hi Skarey,

I did ask this question to my neuro, she was unsure however, since that, I found a website which explained how the location of certain lesions can effect certain places on the body. Not sure about the symptoms though.  Think we need Quix on this one...are you ouy there Quix?

[skarey]

Can you answer this??

[karzme]

These are very good questions. I have lesions on my spine and brain. I haven't heard if they cause different symptoms or not. This question is better left to those with medical knowledge, like quix.  Karina