Well, I posted that I was going to make a trip down to Maryland and get a Magnetic resonance neurography of my neck and brachial plexus in the thread below.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread173833.html
I got the results back and most everything was normal except something on the brachial plexus:
Findings:
Bilateral Brachial Plexus nerve roots appear diffusely hyperintense with asymmetrical prominence of the bilateral C8 nerve root at the lower interscalene triangle just before trunk formation.
I had my Neurologist call Dr. Chhabra who read the MRN and reported the findings to get his interpretation on my results.
I spoke to my Neurologist and he didn’t really offer me much of an explanation of the findings and basically told me whatever is going on is on a molecular level and just work with pain management. I asked about my DRG and he said they would have to perform another MRI for that. I was kind of upset about that.
I really wasn’t happy with the response I got from him so I called Chhabra directly and I am glad I did. He told me I defiantly have a Neuropathy in my C8 nerve root as it appeared very bright on the MRN which is a sign the nerve is inflamed or damaged. I asked him about my Dorsal Root Ganglia and he said it was good. DRG was right size and looked normal.
He did recommend I get another MRN in 6 months to make sure it doesn’t get worse. There would be a very small chance the nerves might be getting inflamed by small cancer tumors but it’s unlikely.
I told him my medical history and he said IVIG might be an option that you haven’t tried. I spoke to my PM doctor about it in the past so I will have to run it by him again. All my blood work came back clean except some slight elevated proteins in my spinal fluid so I am not sure if IVIG will help. HE said its not TOS and a nerve block would not help.
I at least have proof that I have PN and I’m not thinking this thing up. I strongly recommend if anyone out there has burning or other neurological pain and EMG’s, blood work, and MRI’s come back clean ….
Do yourself a favor and goto John hopkins and get an MRN.