mri results

[ninny806]

Hi there, I was just wondering, is it possible for an mri to show up just lesion on the brain scan. I had one on my spine which did,nt really show anything. This was done because in january of this year, I had a c5 & c6 infusion done with brannigans cage and plate. Prior to this , I had pins and needles in legs which is why I was referred to nuero surgeon in the first place. I thought that by having the surgery it would repair things, but no. prior also to the operation in the september, the doc,s suspected I had a mini stroke, never really got to the bottom of that one though. Since all this,I have been extremely exhausted all the time, cramps seem worse than ever and I continually feel cold and cannot get warm ( feet freezing. Also , I suffer from crohn,s desease and in april under went surgery for a burst abcess, which resulted in me having a ileostomy. I am now on Iron tablets twice daily. My neuro surgeon (who I visited on monday, 8th, dec, 2009) for the results of the mri didnt mention any lesions on the spinal mri, but refused to make a dianosis because of my symptoms and because I am having falls and my vision has gone down badly over the previous months. I would be greatful for any fed back.

[Quixotic1]

Iron deficiency is a common reason for cognitive impairment in all ages.  My kids who were "milk-babies" and anemic were hyperactive and poor learners until we corrected the iron deficiency.  And it takes higher levels of iron to correct the cognitive problems than it does to correct the blood problems.

All elders who are having memory impairment should be checked for anemia, thyroid dysfunction and low B12 before Alzheimer's is considered.

It isn't clear.  Are you under the care of a neurologist?

So often the neurologist will not consider a problem when a neurosurgical problem is also present.  One can have a neurological disorder AND a problem with compression in the spine.  They are not mutually exclusive.  It makes symptoms harder to evaluate, but that is why doctors make the big bucks.

Quix

[ninny806]

Many thanks for replying to me. First, i would like to add that I have always suffered from anemia, but was put on iron tablets following my ileostomy .

My visual problems started a few months back. Everything goes foggy and cant seem to focus well. Forgot to mention that I also forget things easily and find concenrating hard.                                

Loss of balance seems to have been around now for some time, but recently  my foot has developed a habit of just giving way causing me to fall. As I already stated, my flesh on legs seem dead, ( this started about 14 months ago) prompting me to visit doctor, which then led to operation on neck. Legs also feel wet.     many thanks ninny,

[Quixotic1]

Hi, and Welcome to the forum.  I'm sorry your are suffering so much.

I didn't really understand what your first question was.  Are you asking if it is possible for the MRI to show lesions only on the brain?   If so, the answer is yes, if you are talking about MS.  In MS you can have lesions in both the brain and spinal cord (this is the most common), only in the brain, or only in the cord (the least common.)

Also, when you write would you break the text up into smaller paragraphs like I am doing?  Many of us have difficulty tracking with our eyes and we get lost in long continuous paragraphs.

It sounds like you had the spinal surgery to stabilize C5-C6, but you are still having a lot of symptoms.

You have tingling in your legs.  You also have problems feeling cold.  This is unusual, but not impossible in MS.  MS has frequent problems with temperature sensation and regulation.  But, have you also had your thyroid tested, along with thyroid antibodies?  this can also be a side effect of anemia which is frequent with Crohn's Disease and would be why you are on iron twice a day.

Now it sounds like your neurosurgeon is stumped by these and the other symptoms of cramps, balance and/or dizziness and/or weakness and problems with your vision.  Is this correct?

Tell us about the cramping - where is it and how does it behave?

What is happening with your vision?  When did it start and what symptoms did you have?

Why do you fall?  Is it weakness, dizziness, or loss of balance?

If you answer these questions, we can get a better idea of what you are going through.

We're here to listen and try to help.

Quix