Help reading MRI

[godschoice77]

Hi, I have Fibromyalgia or so I have been told for 17 years.  I had an MRI of brain 5 yrs ago and it was completely normal.  I had one  yesterday and it showed 1). Few supratentorial nonspecific hyperintensities within the subcortical white matter which are probably secondary to migraines   or early chronic small vessel ischemic change..  2). Focal hyperintensity within the right pons which is likely related to chronic small vessel ischemia.

When I read the symptoms of MS  I have all 18 symptoms that I have read.  This year my flare ups become increasingly closer together and more difficult.  Sometimes I cant even barely make it up the stairs.

I have peripheral neuropathy, DJD, arthritis also.

Do you think I should pursue to see if I have MS?  What does my MRI results mean?  I feel strongly that I do have MS.  I have been tested for lymes, lupus, etc.  my sed rate is fine.  My RA is fine.

Please advise.......

Thankyou

[SarahL2491]

probably unusual for you to have all 18 symptoms, and you didn't state your age.  migraines can also cause lesions as can other things.

I'd discuss it with the doc who ordered the MRI and be quite frank with him, he/she may be able to put your mind at ease.

[immisceo]

Usually (though not always) in an MRI that's pointing in the direction of MS (or a related condition), you'll see the word 'demyelination' somewhere in the findings.

However, yours mentions ischemia or ischemic changes twice. This means they're more likely to be pointed in the direction of issues related to blood supply.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

Firstly, you should be aware that almost all sx's found in MS, are also found in many other conditions, you actually have been dx with 4 conditions that have sx's that are similar to MS sx's. Unlike many other medical conditions, MS doesn't really have a tick list of sx's that every person with MS gets. Each person with MS has a unique combination of sx's, some sx's are more common than others ie visual but it would be very unusual for a pwMS to have every sx connected to MS.  

Nothing about your MRI is giving 'me' any indication that it could be MS, thats not saying much I know, but it just isn't specific enough for me to think its possibly MS. You've been dx with peripheral neuropathy, which is damage to the peripheral nervous system but MS is the central nervous system. The sx's can be very similar but the test results yield different results because they are different nervous systems, so its possible the sx's your attributing to being MS sx's, are actually the peripheral neuropathy etc.

Is there something specific that you experience, that isn't accounted for by your dx conditions?  

Cheers...........JJ