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What does this MRI Report mean?
I have had unexplained peripheal neuropathy since Feb., now going from leg to arms, in constant pain of varying degrees, been told I have Fibro, maybe Transverse Myelitis, or MS. So frustrated. Only thing that takes pain away is vicodin, which they keep telling me narcotics don't work on nerve pain...I am a mother of 2 small children & can't live like this! All started w/ my husband passing Herpes Simplex to me.
Minor diffuse meningeal enhancement which is of uncertain significance but most likely not pathological.
The alignment of the vertebral bodies is normal. The spinal canal is large at all levels. The craniovertebral junction and C1-2 relationships are normal. There is minor degeneration at C5-6 with a midline disc bulge that does not impress significantly upon the thecal sac and does not contact the spinal cord or extend into the neural foramina. The remaining disc spaces are unremarkable. The spinal cord has a normal appearance. Following IV contrast there is faint highlighting along the meninges from the foramen magnum through the entire cervical spine but no nodularities or masses are identified.
Minor diffuse meningeal enhancement which is of uncertain significance but most likely not pathological.
The alignment of the vertebral bodies is normal. The spinal canal is large at all levels. The craniovertebral junction and C1-2 relationships are normal. There is minor degeneration at C5-6 with a midline disc bulge that does not impress significantly upon the thecal sac and does not contact the spinal cord or extend into the neural foramina. The remaining disc spaces are unremarkable. The spinal cord has a normal appearance. Following IV contrast there is faint highlighting along the meninges from the foramen magnum through the entire cervical spine but no nodularities or masses are identified.
PS Always have a headache, have had them since my teenage years...
Feb. 11, husband's condom broke while on vacation, cut his private parts, he bled into me. Feb. 12 I go & get the morning after pill which I take on the 12th & 13th. Feb. 15 I start bleeding & itching in my private parts which continues, til on the 17th I noticed a couple sores, thought it was from scratching the area. 19th went to the women's hospital, told I had Genital Herpes. 20th in the evening notice pain in left shin, thought I bumped it but didn't see a black & blue mark, 21st total left leg pain, couldn't even sit on it. 22nd legs still hurt, PCP sent me for doppler since I have recently been on an airplane, everything checked out fine. 23rd & on pain continued into both legs, burning, pain, sharp pains, sensitivity to touch & cold. PCP called in Ativan & said to try Advil. Finally went to ER, could barely walk. Went to ER again, told I had Peripheal Neuropathy, not even examined, said to defer to my PCP, they wrote me a pain script. PCP put me on neurontin. And since then it has simply gotten worse. Sometimes my legs & arms hurt so much that I am in tears, and I know pain, I had scar tissue that closed off my small bowel, so I can deal with pain. I have had nerve conduction tests, MRI's, Bloodwork, etc. All that has shown was what the MRI showed, some Albumin in my urine. My ESR Sed rate went from 8 to 28 in 3 weeks & I need to redo a Immunofixation serum & urine test b/c some protein strand showed up in my urine & not my serum. I was told if it was not in my serum it really shouldn't be in my urine so my neuro was puzzled as to why that was. I also saw a rheumatologist who said I have Fibromyalgia. I find it hard to believe Fibro started that suddenly. Sometimes I can barely walk, it's like I am walking on pebbles in bare feet & that my legs are razor burned. My hands & arms thump & are sensitive to cold. I don't sleep b/c of the pain. I am now on Neurontin, Elavil, Prozac, Metoprolol, Valtrex & pain pills. This is getting frustrating, I am a mother of 2 small children & can't be medicated like this for no reason. I would gladly go to the Cleveland Clinic to the right department if I felt I could get an answer...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.
Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Regarding the other issues (MS and fibromyalgia):
MS is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system. To make the diagnosis there are specific criteria, in which objective neurologic findings are present affecting 2 or more locations in the nervous system in 2 or more episodes. In order to make this diagnosis, a detailed history and neurologic examination is required. MRI is very helpful and needed as it helps determining the presence of white matter lesions in 2 or more locations, however there are multiple conditions producing MRI changes that could be mistaken for MS, and the MRI should be reviewed properly and correlated to the symptoms. When the diagnosis is in doubt, LP to study the CSF is helpful, and if there is still some doubt, there are other tests such as evoked potentials that can help.
The symptoms you report may or may not be related to MS, as sensory symptoms can happen for many other reasons.
Fibromyalagia is a medical condition that leads to whole body pains. Its cause is unknown, but it is characterized by diffuse aches, sometimes GI symptoms similar to irritable bowel, sleep abnormalities, low pain threshold, and other features. It is best treated with medications such as lyrica and neurontin, exercise, and physical therapy. Fibromyalgia occurs frequently in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. If no cause of the condition is identified, it is best to look for other contributing factors such as anxiety or depression.
When did your husband “give you herpes”? Do you have a headache during this time? I am not sure what is meant by the meningeal enhancement on MRI. It could mean a multiple of things. You should follow up with your physician and follow up with the physician who ordered the test. If there is clinical suspicion, you may need a lumbar puncture to evaluate further.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
Regarding the other issues (MS and fibromyalgia):
MS is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system. To make the diagnosis there are specific criteria, in which objective neurologic findings are present affecting 2 or more locations in the nervous system in 2 or more episodes. In order to make this diagnosis, a detailed history and neurologic examination is required. MRI is very helpful and needed as it helps determining the presence of white matter lesions in 2 or more locations, however there are multiple conditions producing MRI changes that could be mistaken for MS, and the MRI should be reviewed properly and correlated to the symptoms. When the diagnosis is in doubt, LP to study the CSF is helpful, and if there is still some doubt, there are other tests such as evoked potentials that can help.
The symptoms you report may or may not be related to MS, as sensory symptoms can happen for many other reasons.
Fibromyalagia is a medical condition that leads to whole body pains. Its cause is unknown, but it is characterized by diffuse aches, sometimes GI symptoms similar to irritable bowel, sleep abnormalities, low pain threshold, and other features. It is best treated with medications such as lyrica and neurontin, exercise, and physical therapy. Fibromyalgia occurs frequently in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. If no cause of the condition is identified, it is best to look for other contributing factors such as anxiety or depression.
When did your husband “give you herpes”? Do you have a headache during this time? I am not sure what is meant by the meningeal enhancement on MRI. It could mean a multiple of things. You should follow up with your physician and follow up with the physician who ordered the test. If there is clinical suspicion, you may need a lumbar puncture to evaluate further.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
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