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

[Angie9798]

Hi Ashley-

It does seem crazy that they have yet to do lumbar!!!  My symptoms started in my right leg but within 3 weeks were equally in both.

Any advice???

[Angie9798]

Hi Sarah-

How long have you had symptoms?  I hate all this crazy stuff.  I keep telling everyone that I would have a hard time believing that anyone could feel the crazy sensations I have...like I feel like my feet are vibrating!

How old are you?  I know age is considered a little with ms.  I am 34, close to 35 UGH!!!

How are your symptoms now?  How are you handling all this?  Do you have a good support system?  I ask because I know this is all so hard.  THE WAITING GAME!  UGH!

I had the VEP test a about 6 weeks back.  Mine was normal.  I keep asking my neuro what else could be the cause of all this weird stuff....no answer.

I also have a big test on April 1st...I have my EMG.  My kids (11 and 12) keep asking if it can all turn out to be an "April Fools."  Boy do I ever wish they are right.

Love to hear back from you,
Angie

[daisy.girl]

Angie,
I didn't answer your question. The lumbar spine is not looked at for MS....the spinal cord ends before that area....

My first visit to the new neuro was in Dec 2009 and I was DX Jan 2010....quick I know. I did not ever think MS....I was going to see him for severe migraines and blurry/double vision. Oh yea....I forgot, I had optic neuritis too. I had balance issues, but I thought that was due to the migraines and/or all the medication I took.

[daisy.girl]

Angie,
I had the following results:
hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
positive babinski
positive hoffmans sign
clonus
absent abdominal reflex
ataxia
abnormal SSEP
low vit D
low B12
normal LP
my first brain MRI was normal on the 1.5 T magnet.
second MRI on 3T showed lesions

I went to a new neuro....he is the one that reordered the MRI....I picked the radiololgy dept...because I had researched, like you, the stronger the magnet the better.

but my new neuro thought it was MS from the beginning, even though the first MRI was normal....he said my neuro exam and history pointed strongly toward MS.

I did have contrast with the second MRI....but ALL lesions will show up on a MRI without contrast...the contrast only shows which lesion are newer ones (within the last 30 days or so)

[Sparkysarah]

I am also new to this site and it feels like we are in a similar place. I am waiting for lots of results..hopefully this week. I had a brains scan done to look for an acoustic neuromas originally as I had experienced some mild hearing loss and numbness on one side of my face. This scan showed brain scarring on right hand side but was not as detailed as a neuro scan. I have subsequently had scans done of head, neck and spine and results are sitting on Consultant's desk waiting for him to read and come back to me. I had all my blood tests done last week and these should be through next week also. I have to wait for evoked eye potential test on 1st April. This waiting and being in limbo is the hardest bit and I know it is essential to eliminate everything else, but it is frustrating when symptoms are increasing (probably due to anxiety) and there is nothing that can be done. I feel fairly ignorant about all the different scans that have been mentioned so will be interested to find out what sort I have had done. My first radiography report suggested demylination and my neuro has indictaed that it looks highly likely and this is before any of the new tests have been. the unknow is a difficult place to be.... xxx

[Angie9798]

So, your 1.5 came back normal?  How did you get them to run the 3T?  Were either or both with contrast?

What do you suggest I do??   How long did your DX take?

Thank you!