lesions on brain no answer

[GTMUR]

I recently have had numbness and tingling in my left foot, hand, and bridge of my nose. I recently had an MRI that showed 6 < 5 mm foci of abnormal signal intensity  on the subcortial white matter of both cerebral hemispheres.  All other test that have been conducted (EMG, lupus, lymes etc.) show normal.  Also had MRI of spine this was unremarkable.  I am 31 old female.  Could these spots on my brain be causing me to have this numbness and tingling.  I can not seem to get a diagnosis of what is going on.  I also have really bad floaters and vision disturbances (floater causing a blind spot).  My opthamologist said I am having farsightedness to wear glasses, which have not helped. I have seen a neurologist, Rheumatologist and now have an appt with fibromyalgia specialist.  I know fibro can cause a lot of symptoms but lesions on my brain?  Can anyone help me sort this out?

[bookwoman21901]

Hi All,
I have had MS like symptoms for 2.5 years -- tingling, numbness, balance issues, difficulty walking, incontinence, etc., etc., etc.  Diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia a couple of years ago; been through lymes disease testing, spinal, etc. MRI a year ago showed 6 high punctate lesions --probably from a TIA.  Now the recent MRI shows "numerous foci of increased signal intensity within subcortical white matter."  Awaiting diagnosis.  Have had "burning bones" more balance problems.  Any ideas?

[Megan's mama]

Hi, this is my first entry. I am desperatly concerned about my daughter. She is 25 now has had bad headaches off and on for years that would go away with over the counetr meds. She got pregnant and the headaches have increased in intensity and lenght of time they stayed and she had required to take heavier and heavier med. to get rid of them. She delivered a healthy baby girl in January and had an epidural for that. two weeks after her delovery her headaches were severe requiring a hospital ER visit. The md at first said she had post preg. pre eclampsia OK did well with swelling after on  hctz but headaches still severe unrelenting frontal stabbing and severe aching in the occipital region. so we go back to the ED. Well they do a ct to rule out bleed and stated nothing there so gave her DHE IV almost blew her headoff due to BP SKYHIGH. iWAS SCARED TO DEATH. Anyway thast did not help so gave her narcotics sent her home. In the morning we get phone call from radiologist her CT not normal at all MULTIPLE LESIONS THRUOUGHOUT BRAIN at least 6. Had MRI confirmed at least 6 lesions which intensify on dye. They thought ADEM to start with high dose steroids and all ICU admit. ANYWAY still no better since January she is possitive for Oligoclonal bands in spinal fluid. Sevaral MRIS later and more spinal taps still unrelenting headache is now on Methadone and trying to raise her baby. We see a Neurosurgeon next week for a Brain biopsy, I am scared to death she is only 25, she really has no neurologic symptoms except some intermittent numbness and has alot of muscle aches. I am positive for Lupus and so is an Aunt of mine. Megan has the same severe body aches I do. The MD does not want to label her with MS he thought it was CADASIL because her MRI looked so bad he said it was really hard to believe her MRI looked so bad for her to not have any Neurologic symptoms. The Methadone does not make the headache goe away and they seem to be getting worse and she needs Demerol or Tylox to help breakthrough which is all the time she is on 15 mg Methadone  3 times a day. Any possible suggestions. Please help ??? I lve her to so much I am afraid it is Cancer both my parents in the last 2 years died of it Mesotheiloma and Pancreatic. Megan's Mama

[amberch]

have you been checked for MS/ multiple sclerosis?

[GTMUR]

Yes I have a GP she is the one who sent me to the Rheumotologist.  I am not over weight, 132 5'9 but I do have flat feet.

[Demiguise]

Bet you feel like a bouncing ball. I've read your problem a
thousand times & it's sometimes easy/lengthy to get a dx's. I
know physiolgy pretty wel & there's a big piece missing. It
may even be lack of Dr's attn. to results. Dr. was correct w/
MS usually has plaque/white matter in Corpus but not always
means MS. We now know probably not MS & you would've had other
clinical signs. You are speaking/articulate thoughts/answer
questions gd. This tells me which lobes are wkg. Frontal &
Occipital seem to be gd. Parietal receives/interprets tingle/
numb/vibration/location, from other firing areas. Spine is
'unremarkable' w/ no lesions. I sure hate that word. Sounds like 'no comment for now'. White matter is (fat) or myelin like
insulation around nerves so they can transmit like wiring. If
there's micro-hole in myelin, you'll get WM. Lengthy stress or
depression can cause this also. I go back to 'questionable-
clinical-significance' in report. Either you got bums-rush
from Neuro or the cause may be do to info going back to head
injury 2002. Need to know: Rt-L side/severity/front/back/top?
Cause/length recovery. Do you have that report? Lab can give.
As far as Rheum referred you to Fibro Spec., I find that very
bizarre since they treat those patients. Fibro is a basket of
'I DUNNO's'. 'I hurt all over' they say Fibro. Actually, you
need to have 11 pressr-pts that barely get touched & you hurt.
It means fibrous-tissue of muscle pain w/ fatigue. If I hurt or
strain, that can happen. I'll have faigue if I favor it since
I'm wkg. to compensate. It's a real condition but of what?
Generally restless sleep/a.m. fatigue all day/achin at rest is
criteria. Walking will actually increase muscle flow/mass to
get better but many like to say 'but it hurts'. Rest allows
lazy neurons/weak muscle tone. SSRI's help mood to sleep & move! You also have a 'condition' to tell yourself & that makes
brain happy. Ask how fatigued are you? Can you shop a few hrs?
Go out & converse w/o brain fog? Any head-injury info may help.
Did lab do a Sed-rate/CRP? Is your main problem numb & tired?
Were you put on any meds? Did injury give you a sore neck?

[GTMUR]

Report from 2002 never mentioned any lesion it actually said:  IMPRESSION Unremarkable MRI of the brain.  There is no evidence of hemorrhagic, or non-hemorrhagic contusion or subdural hematoma.  The lesion from 2002 came up because the same Radiologist did 2002 MRI that did most recent MRI.  So he mentioned it on new report.  Sed-rate was fine, Protein total-ok.  The only thing that was out of normal range was Albumin which was 4.9 (range 3.5-4.7).  Nero doctor is the one that referred me to Fibro doctor. The Rhemotologist said he found nothing that my exam was normal.  The accident in 2002 was not bad, I was hit from behind and hit my head on the drivers side window.  My neck never hurt, just where my head hit the glass. Oh, and by the way I do feel like a bouncing ball! My Nero never told me anything about the lesion he just pointed a couple out to me while we were looking at the films

[Demiguise]

Albumin level varies lab to lab & yours is within range in the
one our state uses. Doesn't sound like the hd-problem is the
cause but the 'matter' may be old from it or from stress/
depression. You said they did a lumbar scan? If that was ok then
poor posture/tilted hips wrong stting/weight/large stomache?
If both legs are a problem, it can even be shoes. Bare feet or
flats can drop arches to tilt back muscles & pinch nerves. I
think Rheum. did a lousy exam. Do you have a reg. Dr. instead
of going to specialists? Are you in US or have NHS care? I'd
consider having a Bone Density Scan even though you're young.
May be starting of osteo-hip condition. Doesn't sound like
Fibromyalgia. Could be CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrom). Gd-luck.

[GTMUR]

Sorry forgot to mention I am very fatigued.  I can shop (as every girl can) but I do have an ache in hips, legs and feet if I stand for a while or walk around.  I feel like I need to sit.

[charley1986]

Hi, I had a small "unremarkable" lesion on one of my MRI's - don't ask me which and where - can't remember!  But I also had two EEG's ordered by my neuro - and found out that I ahve some Mis-firing in the right frontal lobe.  They have diagnosed - complex partial seizures - a mild form of epilepsy.  Started anti seizure meds today.  I also have fibro and it ain't no fun -fatigue can be alot of things - I hope it's not fibro - alot of people don't understand it and alot of doctors don't believe it exists...although research is proving them all wrong.  I hope that you get some answers soon - keep posting and let us know how it's going.

[GTMUR]

I started having symptoms of the tingling and numbness about 3 months ago.  Then one night I had a severe cramp in my left foot, which left me un-able to walk for about 24 hours.  The cramp went away but the tingling and numbness lasted for about 4 weeks.  I was referred to the nero Dr. by the rhuemo Dr.  My blood pressure has been fine I have had every test done except the spinal fluid.  My nerologist said that the white spots were on both sides of the cerebral hemispheres.  They did a MRI of the brain, thoracic spine and cervical spine with and without gadolinium.  The report reads there are 6 <5mm foci of abnormal signal intensity involving the subcortical white matter of both cerebral hemispheres of questionable clinical significance.  One lesion was detected in a prior study in 2002 (fender bender in 2002 hit head report came back normal at that time.)  I had the MRI recently to check for MS because of the symptoms I was having.  Spine came back unremarkable no lesions. They also recently did lymes, creatine kinase, protein, rpr, and protein electrophoresis.  The only thing that was out of normal range was albumin which was 4.9 Dr. said he was not concerned.  He now wants to send me to a fibromyalgia Dr.  I do have a lot of fatigue.  I guess what does not make any sense is I dont have a clear answer on what could be causing the lesions.  He said that MS usually shows up in the corpus callosum.  Thanks for your reply.

[Demiguise]

The eye floaters probably have nothing to do w/ whatever your
condition is. Didn't mention why you had the brain mri. Numb
hand/foot/nose would normally have a C-spine mri. Anyway, the
lesions in sub-cortical showing white matter can be many things.
Depends on where. You have 4 brain-lobes in ea. hemisphere &
then things in midbrain/forebrain/hindbrain. Have you had any
head-pressr/headache/back-skull ache/neck ache? White matter
happens w/ mis-firing neurons. Can be from simple hypertension
to brainstem edema or an old infection to serious things. You
don't sound in a panic so I'm guessing mri was just a test to
screen or rule out? Didn't say how long you've had symptoms or
if it's 6 spots in ea. side or 3 & 3? If you had spinal fluid
compression at neck, you can have sub-cortical upset showing as
white matter. The left brain operates the rt side & vice-versa.
A numb handfoot sounds like a spinal compression someplace. The
sometimes numb nose sounds like a neck problem. How's your
posture & health? Brain & spine work together w/ messaging.
Ck. your blood pressure regularly for hypertension. Most ofc's
to a rush & normally off 10-14 w/ numbers. Maybe ck. at a
pharmacy after resting 5 min. or go to 'fire dept'. Equipment is
exact when they ck it. Gd-luck.