Can You Can Have MS without MRI Lesions?

[Quixotic1]

I know we have covered this before, and I really should spend more time on the National MS Society site, but this is a quote from the NMSS Sourcebook on MRI's.  It says everything so much more succinctly than I do when I'm "winging it."

"Diagnosis
Because MRI is particularly useful in detecting central nervous system demyelination, it is a powerful tool in helping to establish the diagnosis of MS. It should be remembered, however, that approximately 5% of patients with clinically definite MS do not show lesions on MRI, and the absence of demyelination on MRI does not rule out MS. Also, since many lesions seen on MRI may be in so-called "silent" areas of the brain, it is not always possible to make a specific correlation between what is seen on the MRI scan and the patient's clinical signs and symptoms. In addition, with advancing age (probably over age 50), there are often small areas seen on MRI in healthy people that resemble MS but are actually related to the aging process, and are of no clinical significance."

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOM_LIB_sourcebook_mri

Guys, not to restate the obvious but this is 1 out of every 20!!!  I'll keep looking, but even my MS Neuro, whom I consider very smart, felt that MS was ruled out by normal MRI's.  I need to understand whether the 5% got diagnosed because they presented so classically - maybe with Optic Neuritis, more than one clear attack, a very positive LP, and a tatoo on their forehead that says, "I have MS!"

Quix

[Heather3418]

bumping up for the newcomers

[kinkin44]

I had all the MS test done=LP and MRI , MRI showed lesions and immunoglobulins are elevated but no MS. I have every classic symptom of MS and the dizziness is awful.  I had a sleep disorder test done recently and found out I have severe sleep apnea and since I have used my CPAP machine this week the symptoms are beginning to fade and I feel better.  The medical profession states that it is possible to get lesions from lack of oxygen during the sleep apnea.

[kinkin44]

I forgot to state that I would have never believed for a minute that I would of had sleep apnea, when I went down to the sleep center I thought this is probley a wasted trip, I am so glad that I spent 2 nights and 1 day sleep test.  If your neuro suggests it -please take him or her up on it,  I have noticed that this week my joints don't hurt as bad and i have more energy and the dizziness is starting to slack off in its intensity-so everynight that I use it and get used to having that mask on which is used to get hard to I will feel better everyday !!!
Thanks for reading this,  it feels good to talk about it.

[gjo]

question, what if they say you have  ms and you believe you dont have it and you take the avonex, what can happen long term

[jensequitur]

GJO, if they say you have MS... then it's likely you have some sort of demyelinating disease.  It's very hard to get a doctor to sign off on anything neurological.  As you'll find if you hang out here for a while - many people remain undiagnosed, even with lesions.

And if the doctor thinks you have MS and should be on some sort of DMD, it's a good idea.  The DMDs slow down progression, and keep the flares from being too debilitating.

[Treechris]

I'm in agreement with taking the DMD.  Better safe than sorry.  Unfortunately, I fell into that "there aren't any lesions, so let's wait" category, and now I've lost vision in one eye and am 2 weeks post optic neuritis attack in the other.  I can't help but wonder where I would be if I knew what I know now and had pushed a little harder.  BTW, I do have lesions now, which isn't as much comfort to me as it is to my neuro. I sincerely hope things work out for you no matter what you decide.