What will an MRI show?

[Thelma]

Good morning, doctor,
     I am a 41 year old female, 5'5", 128 lbs.  I have been undergoing neurological tests for 5 years in search of a diagnosis.  My main symptoms are muscle fatigue. muscle weakness predominantly on my left side, Most noticeable in my arms, hands and legs. I also get a very intense burning sensation on my skin, predominantly my back arms and legs. I have dizzy spells that sometimes start with my eyes rolling back in my head.  I feel like I am being knocked over from behind although I don't fall.  Except for a grand mal type seizure last November. Because of this my Neurologist ordered an EEG which was apparently normal  and and MRI which will be done in March.
     Exercise seems to bring on the muscle fatigue very quickly. I am still able to swim, but not do aerobic activity without getting dizzy and weak in a matter of minutes.  My neurologist originally thought I might have a mitochondrial myopathy or calcium channelopathy. He had ordered MRI, EMG, spinal tap, bloodwork and muscle biopsy (Right upper leg).  The muscle biopsy did not show the ragged red fibres he was looking for.
      I was later sent to Montreal Neurological Institute for further testing and the only thing they came up with was that I had myodenylate deaminase deficiency, Which as far as I can understand could cause muscle fatigue, but not the rest of the symptoms.  I can remember reading on the Montreal neurologist report that she found "clonus" and "cogwhheeling rigidity".  
     My husband feels that my dizzy spells look like seizures.  Can you tell if a MRI would provide evidence for mitochondrial disorders, channelopathies, siezures or MS.  What exactly are the neurologists looking for on an MRI? I am currently on 20 mg. of Prozac and 400mg. of amantadine daily, both of which help my fatigue and the burning sensation.Any input would be appreciated.  Thankyou!

[rachael_alvarado]

Hello everyone I have a question and need some advice in the past year I went from being perfectly healthy to very sick I found I had gallstones and I had my surgery in November it seems ever since that surgery I've gotten worse I just found out I have sphincter of oddi dysfunction ibs Kidney stones migraines and anemia. I just did some research and found if anemia is left untreated it can damage the nerves and the heart (which my doctor didn't tell me anything about she said anemia just means you need more vitamins) so she gave me a months worth of vitamin b12 and iron and I finished those and thought I was all better but now I've developed some nerve problems and I was wondering if you could tell me if it's caused by my anemia or not. I've had an eeg and a brain mri done all normal. My symptoms are- severe twitching, swelling of the eyes, tingling and burning feeling in my arms and legs, and numbness in my arms and hands, and its only happened once about a month ago but I woke up and I could barley move I felt extremely weak and when I stood up I couldn't straighten my legs all the way. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated

[Lee]

Comment to Thelma,
I am not a doctor , nor a nurse, however regarding
the seizure-like things that you mentioned happened
(or a re happening), could it be that a combination
of incompatible drugs are causing them.  Saw a
program about a woman who was on Prozac, and started
having muscle rigidity, dr prescribed I don't know
what for that and the woman is having horrible
spasms.  Don't know if she has gotten help yet.
Drugs are potent, and affect people differently.

[jan]

Hi Thelma, you must have alot of character to be able to perform household duties in spite of all you are going through!  God bless you! I wonder, too, how can you do anything taking all that tylenol 3?  Be careful, I became addicted to it using much less than that. If you get a cold you can't get rid of, like sniffles, check it out.  You still don't have a diagnosis, do you?
I am awaiting the results of my holter monitor test to see if the small dose of atenolol I am on is enough to control the arrhythmia.  I sure hope so, I feel much better (I wouldn't mind a little bit more energy).  My cardio. was concerned because my blood pressure was 133/88, but today at my pcp it was 118/80. My stress tests results were real good. That brought a smile to my face.  So, I just need the character that you (and my mother) have and life will be just fine.

[Thelma]

Hi Jan! How are you? I am still having very bad headaches but I don't think they are migraines.  The first week on the inderal I felt a lot better, less dizzy spells and more like my old self. but the past two weeks have had headaches most of the time and taking 2 or 3 tylenol 3 a day, so i'm managing.  I really can't tell that the inderal is doing anything yet for the headaches.  My legs are generally feeling weak, like they are both going to collapse at the knees.  However I am still keeping up with the household, laundry, kids stuff etc.  I see my doctor July 6th. Maybe he'll have some other suggestions.  I really can't tell what my headaches are from.  I hope you are doing ok.  Sometimes I just feel like going off all the medication to see what would happen.  The last time I did that was under the neurologists direction and it was hard to speak, walk eat etc as well as my skin felt like it was on fire and I was incredibly irritable.  Will keep in touch .  I hope you are doing well or at least ok.

[jan]

I know how you feel about not wanting to take medications. It took my dr. 3x's before he convinced me to take atenolol, I feel so much better now (well, I felt better on the prescribed dose
- the depression).  I haven't tried propranolol, my dr. suggested we try verapamil, but one side effect of that is abnormal behavior/psychosis (wonderful). If I was depressed with the atenolol, I wonder if that would mean I'd be more susceptible to that! Also, I read that beta blockers can increase your risk of diabetes, which concerns me because my mother was diabetic and my older brother and sister are.  My appt. is the 14th, so I'll see then. I wonder how I did on the stress test.  Take care, I hope things continue to go well with you!

[Thelma]

Hi jan! I was at the doctor today, not my regular one but one in the same clinic and i will see my doctor in a month.  He prescribed inderal today as a headache preventative but said I might not notice the difference for a month and to keep taking Tylenol 3 for the headaches (the only thing that gives me some relief)  I tried cutting my dose of prozac in half but my skin feels like it is burning within a few hours.  So I tried cutting the amantadine in half and then my energy level is so low and my speech starts slurring etc.  So I am curious to see what the inderal will  do. if there are any side effects etc.  He said that it would not interact with or affect the prozac and amantadine. I feel like I will never get off these 2 drugs, but that is OK if it keeps me functioning somewhere nearer to normal.The dizziness hasn't been as bad, but it's still there.  We got our videocamera back last week but haven't had a bad enough dizzy spells to tape it yet.  I'm sure it'll happen soon enough.  Have you ever been on inderal(propanolol)?  I am glad you are figuring out some of your problems with medication.  I'm often wondering if there is a better drug for what ails me.  I've had some better days in the last week and feel pretty upbeat for me right now.  Take care, I'll  post again when i figure out if the inderal does anything or have any other news.

[jan]

I cut my pm dose of atenolol out because I believe it was making me depressed! I am going to let my cardio. know when I see him in a couple weeks. I discovered this when I had to go off it for a thallium stress test.  I am so glad I figured it out!  I didn't know what was going on with me!  Unfortunately, I don't feel as well physically since cutting the dose.  Not that I feel terrible, I just feel like I am out of shape (and I get a good bit of exercise).  Doing the stress test I felt like I never excercised!  So, have the dr.s started treating you in any way, for anything?!  Do you still have your license?  Has your husband been able to video tape an one of your episodes yet?

[Thelma to Jan]

Hi Jan.  I tried to post a reply the other day and it didn't get there.  I am doing ok.  A tonic-clonic seizure is the new name for a grand mal seizure.  It would not explain all my strange symptoms but is just another sign or symptom I think.  The fatigue and left sided weakness are the most bothersome at the moment.  I am still having the waves pretty well daily, but they are not as incapacitating as a few months ago. I had some whopper headaches this week, but have gone to the chiropractor and took Tyl #3 and it is now minimal.  I had a massage 2 weeks ago and my masseuse noticed for the first time that there was less muscle on my left side.  I was lying on my stomach and she was doing my back and legs. I have gone to her for 10 years. I am so glad my kids and husband are healthy, I don't think I could deal with anything more.  How are you doing?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Kelly J:

I am sorry I am unfamiliar with Forestier's disease.  There is a Forster's sign, that is seen in children with cerebral palsy (the atonic type) when they are held under the arms, they flex both legs at the hips.  

CCF Neuro MD

[Kelly J.]

What exactly is Forestier's Disease?   Is it limited to
cervical area?  I am having lumbar surgery (L-5) and then
later on cervical surgery (fusion with both )...thanks

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the communication between each other.

CCF Neuro MD

[jan]

Hi Thelma,
I just rec'd the results of my CAT Scan w/contrast.  I am so disappointed, believe it or not because they didn't find anything!  I have had pain in my back on the right side for 2 yrs., it is getting more frequent and lasting longer.  This is the 3rd dr. that said I was pointing right to my kidney and it's the 3rd test they've done (IVP and Renal Ultrasound).  I am glad aspirin helps, but I am really surprised a stone didn't show up (or something).  My dad and all my siblings (6) have had kidney stones, so I thought that would be the answer.  I haven't any idea what they will do next.

Losing your license would be a drag, for sure!  Maybe your husband has something there with video taping your episodes.  What is a tonic clonic seizure?  Would this explain everything going on with you?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Thanks for your comments and keeping tabs on one another.

CCF Neuro MD

[Thelma to Jan]

Hi! How are you doing?  I had 3 fairly good weeks, then got a very bad dizzy spell playing junior monopoly with my kids 9 days ago.  i went to bed for an hour and felt better after the nap.  I saw my GP the next Monday and talked about the dizzy spells and seizure from last Nov.  He said based on my description and what my husband described he would have had to take my license away.  So if it happens again I will lose my license, which would be difficult as we live out in the country(in a small village).  I read my neurologists report which said it could have been a tonic clonic seizure and that he elected not to treat me at this time.  My GP thinks it is probably because the medication might cause more side effects than it is worth.  At any rate, after we get our videocamera fixed, my husband is going to videotape the dizzy weak spells to show my GP and neurologist. I had another very bad dizzy spell on Wed. and my left side is weak again.  But I am coping OK.  I will post again to let you know how I am doing in a few weeks.  I hope you return to this post and I hope that you are doing well!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Thanks for the comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[jan]

Dear Thelma,
I was so concerned because it's been awhile since you posted and you had said you expected the results the following week.  I was hoping that, like me, you thought you would have the results by then, but these things don't happen as fast as we'd like.  I know it's disappointing to be told "unremarkable", but finding something could've been worse.  I am glad to hear you are feeling better (except for the fatigue, which I know is enough all by itself).
The last 2 weeks I've been kinda sluggish, I wish I had told my cardio., but I was afraid he'd increase my medicine (then I would really feel fatigued).  Because my pulse rate has recently gone up to as high as 136 he is talking about adding a calcium channel blocker to my betablocker. Thrills. :o

[Thelma to Jan]

Hi! I got the results from the neurologist's office that the MRI was "unremarkable".  I will see my G.P. mid April and be able to read the report then.  It seems as though it is not providing any new information. The last three weeks haven't been bad in terms of the waves but the fatigue has been overwhelming a lot of days, at least half. Which means I cut down on the amount of stuff I do and increase the amount of sleep to include 2 daytime naps , atleast while my daughter is in school ( 3 days a week). My left leg ia the most bothersome at the moment, I went on a short (1 1/2 hour ) field trip to a sugar bush with her kindergarden class yesterday and managed being on my feet for about an hour, which is a long time for me.  But it was the best day I 'd had in awhile and I almost felt like I looked like any other normal parent until another mother asking me why I was limping.  I actually thought it wasn't noticeable to anyone, because it felt as close to normal as it has felt in years. So life goes on.  How are you doing?  I hope well, take care!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the comment.

CCF Neuro MD

[Jack]

Thelma,
The hand clawing sounds like Dystonia. It can be induced by certain medications Like amytripteline.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for your comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[Thelma to Jan]

Hi jan! I had the MRI 2 nights ago and will probably get results nest week.  My left side has been a lot better for the last weeek and also a lot less dizzy spells.  The best week in the last month. I looked up some info on temporal lobe epilepsy and to me it didn't really sound like it but who knows, the MRI technician said the requisition sheet said Seizures, but I guess they look for everything on the MRI.  It is really a relief to not feel as weak and dizzy for awhile.  How are you doing?

[jan]

Hi Thelma,
Glad to hear you have been feeling better!  I remembered about your MRI and said a prayer for you.  I am sure you are very anxiously awaiting the results.  I am feeling better, too.  My Dr. thinks I had something viral going on that was causing breakthrough episodes.  Have you asked your dr. about a tilt table test?  I will be watching the forum for your MRI results. God bless. Jan

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[Good Lord Thelma!]

This sounds so classic for temporal lobe epilepsy. Read up on it! EEG is not always great at dx'ing TLE. Your neuromuscular-type condition might be unrelated...