Vertigo, MRI

[JoniDE]

Hi, two weeks ago I went to the ER with vertigo.  Because I'd had chiropractic earlier that day, they decided to do a MRA which is an MRI with dye to check my arteries.  Everything was fine.  Do you know if they could've detected MS at this time with this test or any demyelination?  OR is it  a different MRI that is needed for this? Thanks for any info.  Joni in DE

[JoniDE]

Ty for the blessings.  Things have changed, here, just in the last 20 years since I've lived here with my husband.  When we were dating, we could drive a two lane rd a lot of the way.  Six kids and four lane roads later, we don't often make it to the beach.  We have a pool and some woods but now I'm thinking about the ocean.....Loretta was my grandmother's name.  

[PastorDan]

Loretta spoke several times of how beautiful Rehoboth Beach was when she frequented the shoreline in her high school years.  I've never had the pleasure; maybe someday.

Peace & blessings.

[JoniDE]

Thank you for your help so much.  We're near Rehoboth Beach!  Have a blessed day. Joni in DE

[Nancy T]

I am not an expert, but I'm almost certain that an MRA will not show MS lesions (demyelination). I think it just shows blood vessels.

I had an MRA once (to see whether a blood vessel was compressing my hearing nerve) and an MRI at the same time (that is, while I was still in the machine). But the two different kinds of scans are completely separate, as far as I know.

With vertigo, I would not be worried about MS unless you have other reasons to suspect MS. Vertigo and dizziness are very common and are far and away most often due to problems with the inner ear or cardiovascular system (such as blood-pressure problems), medication side effects, problems related to aging, or anxiety.

[PastorDan]

The standard protocol for an MRI to find MS, as I understand it, includes T1, T2, and FLAIR imaging, and at least one of those, perhaps all, is done with and without gadolinium as a contrast agent to see if certain types of lesions "enhance" with that element present.  I've never heard of an MRA, but my being a preacher might tell you that I'm no expert in the subject, by any means.  Check out the "Health Pages" section via the link with the little yellow icon in the upper right part of this page.  Several pages there talk about MRIs and the complicated process necessary to come to a diagnosis of MS.

Welcome, by the way, to a caring and informed gang of fine, friendly folks.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have in my few months on this roller coaster.

Curious: what part of DE?  My late wife's father was a pastor in Dover in the 60s, when she was a teenager.