Hi candacehp143,

Anyone, with or without MS, can have spine problems. Bulging discs or any spine problem where there is impringment on nerves can cause neurological symptoms.

MS causes damage to the spinal cord not the vertebra.

You can have all of the symptoms of MS but that doesn't mean it's MS. There is no symptom or symptoms unique to MS, they are neurological symptoms. Neurological symptoms can have numerous causes.

The nurse from your Neurologists office is correct --- to see new lesions contrast is needed. Any lesions will show up without contrast all the contrast does is indicate which, if any, of those lesions are new.