1.5 Telsa MRI

[Angie9798]

Hello-

I have had 3 seperate MRI's...one of the brain, one C-Spine and one T-spine.  No lumbar.  All 3 were done to look for signs of MS.  All 3 were normal without contrast.

My question is...is this 1.5 Telsa machine strong enough to pick up lesions?  I have been sympomatic since January.  Kaiser will not run contrast UNLESS the normal MRI shows abnormalities.  I think the concept is backwards!

My neuro says he doesn't think I have MS based on this, but I have a hard time believing it.  He says that this may all be anxiety driven.  I totally disagree.  

Aslo, if this is MS...how long will the symptoms stay?  I have leg tingliness, heaviness, CONSTANT muscle twitches, achiness (like I'm chilled to the bone), tiredness, etc...

My neuro says he sees no sign of damage; I am still completely strong & very happy about that.  I am having a hard time dismissing how I feel.  I am typically a very hyper 34 year old stay home mom of 2....and I mean hyper.  Everything has changed...even my neck gets heavy!

Looking for advice....

Thanks,
Angie

[gheko]

Do you get muscle twitches everywhere?  I ask because i too get muscle twitching, have had a constant one in outer hand for months but twitch in legs, arms back etc.

[Angie9798]

Hi again Ashley-

I've been struggling with the vertigo since about xmas time.  

Some days are better than others, which is true of all symptoms.  Like today, I am only dizzy and tingly.  It's actually a nice break.

Some days the dizziness is like the spins which is the way it has been the past week or so.  Other days it's like I'm walking on a boat.  Sometimes laying down makes it worse and sometimes it just doesn't matter.  I think the more tired I am, the worse it is.  That's a bummer because I am so super tired lately.

I'm not sure exactly what they do to look for the vertigo.  I have had a couple of complete nuero exams but my doc doesn't comment on them.

Thank you so much for asking, do you have any more thoughts???

[ashleyPT]

How long did you have the vertigo/dizziness?  What sorts of things made it worse or better?  What testing did they do to look into the dizziness?

[Angie9798]

Hi Ashley-

My other major symptom is/was the vertigo/dizziness.  And that one is sticking around too!!  YUCK!

Any more thoughts?  I just wish I could be done with all of this...

[ashleyPT]

Do you have any other symptoms?  I'm just trying to figure out the thought process here.  As a medical professional - if someone came to me with ONLY leg symptoms and no other complaints it would take a lot of ruling out other things before I even thought about MS.

[daisy.girl]

Angie....
A lumbar spine MRI is not looked at for MS.....the spinal cord ends before that area.

Diagnosis of MS is a combination of many things. Including the neuro exam, your history/symptoms, Evoked Potentials, Lumbar Puncture, any history of Optic Neuritis, MRI's and blood work to rule of mimics.

Hope that helps.