Hi all,
So the MRI (non-contract) result was "one little spot right side unusual for my age", that's actually what my doctor said. Now of course I have tons of questions but couldn't think to ask then.
***UPDATE: MRI report says "Minimal nonspecific periventricular T2 white matter hyperintensities seen in the right frontal lobe bordering the frontal horn the right lateral ventricle, which is unusual for age" (I'm 44)***

Next thing doctor said spinal tap to confirm MS dx. I'm not really loving the idea of spinal and read that 20% of MS patient never test positive for the proteins.

My question is, wouldn't a MRI with contract be helpful? Could they tell if it was a tumor vs. ms lesion with a contract MRI?

My doctor also said there was "narrowing of cervical base, which could be causing the arm tingling". Does that mean I need to see a chiropractor or is that related to MS?? I hate to sound so naive about this, but honestly I am. This is all so new to me.

My PCP is going to refer me...should I be asking for some kind of specialist?
There's so much conflicting info out there, I don't know what is fact anymore. Too much internet doctoring.

Thanks for your advise.

An MRI with contrast will be helpful in the diagnosing process.

I'm not sure about the narrowing being caused by MS. I haven't heard that before but I'm not an expert on all of this either.

I have never had a spinal tap done. I was diagnosed without it. Others on here can share their experiences with it.

My neurologist is not an MS specialist so to speak. He specializes in MS as well as other neurological conditions such as strokes. In otherwords, he is well versed in MS and goes to all sorts of conferences and stuff for MS but he also sees patients that don't have MS. I did go to and was diagnosed by an MS specialist and was in a study for a while with a nationally know MS specialist. (I just loved him. He was great.) But, I had to switch neurologists and ended up with the one I have now. He came highly recommended by my MS specialist as well as some others in the neurology field that I know.

Consulting Dr. Google, Dr. Yahoo, etc., basically Dr. Internet, can be a bad thing. I saw a thing on Pinterest that said something to the effect of searching your symptoms on the internet can make it seem like you are going to die of some rare disease within the next 24 hours when all you have is a common cold. It's true. I think consulting Dr. Internet has created a lot of unnecessary health anxiety in many people. Just be careful which sites you are going to. I highly recommend this site to any MS patient whether a newbie or a "seasoned" MSer. It is so informative and so thourough. http://my-ms.org/ms.htm You can search symptoms, learn about how the nervous system works, anatomy, treatments, etc. It is an amazing site.

Hang in there Elle! We'll all help you through this as we all have been there before.

My neuro always orders MRIs with contrast...but some insurance cos don't pay for this, and some docs don't want to order them for some reason unknown to me...

I had a spinal tap. It was uncomfortable, and the good friends here and at other sites gave me great advice about lying flat afterwards for the rest of the day and drinking caffeine to avoid the dreaded LP headache.
My LP did not show any proteins, but symptoms later gave me the MS dx...if the neuro feels you are in a flare, then he would order the LP to confirm it.

Keep your symptom journal up to date, but don't forget to live life fully...

And we are here to help, give info/advice, and hugs

I would definitely have you PCP refer you to a MS wise Neurologist. The LP may
or may not be necessary, to be determined by your Neuro. There are other
clinical tests to determine MS or Not, mostly by eliminating other illnesses.

Let us know what your Neuro says and take a deep breath....let it out....

Now that I have a copy of the MRI report, although it doesn't say one lesion that is what my PCP said. The report says "Minimal nonspecific periventricular T2 white matter hyperintensities". In any case, I found online a "McDonald's" MS dx that seemed to require more than one lesion in order to confirm MS dx.

Is there anything else that is common that could cause lesions?

I did have a ANA blood test to ruled out Lupus, Lyme disease, etc.

Are white matter hyperintensities ever tumors? And wouldn't something show up in my blood test if it was a tumor?

My MRI of cervical spine showed:
- Mild degenerative spondylosis of the cervical spine extending from C4-5 thru C6-7
and
- Mild spinal canal stenosis at C5-6 and C6-7

there isn't any mention of lesions. Couldn't all that cause my arm tingling and electrical shocks?

Guess I really need to see the neuro, just have so many questions.
Thanks everyone for your advise. Helps to hear from people that have been in the same situation before.

hi elle and welcome to NT,

don't see a chiropractor until you see a neuro.
i had a spinal and it went well.
it can determine better an MS dx (diagnosis) but may not always come up +.

get a copy of the MRI and a copy of the report. start a medical file on yourself for your own info and for any drs you see down the road. it will be helpful.

try to take one thing at a time. one test, one dr visit etc. try not to think too far ahead. and, try to take someone with you to the visit for a second set of ears.

all the Q's you're thinking of, write them down.
please keep in touch with us. many of us have been down your road and can help with support and info.

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com...entral/pvm.htm

If that helps?


I had two LPs, the first neuro screwed up the first one, the second was negative for everything. I was offered a 3rd by the MS specialist, but after repeat mri's and other testing by him? He gave me a diagnosis of PPMS, and said that even if the 3rd LP would have been negative again? He wouldn't change his DX, there was enough other evidence for it, so I passed on LP #3.

I felt my symptoms were consistent with PPMS and so did he.

This is my concern over the LP, why go through the possible pain and risk just to prove you have it. I feel like if I have MS, I have it, and it won't matter if one test says it or not. I'm not really afraid of needles or anything like that although I don't love the idea on them going into my spin but I've had two c-sections so it wouldn't be the first time. My issue is more with the risk.

My question is so what if the neuro confirms MS, then what happens? I've been wondering "IF" I have it, I haven't really looked into what happens next, lol.

I was fairly certain after some research that I did that I had PPMS, after being finally told that it now looks like my mystery illness looks like a neurological problem.

I had also looked at the recommended treatment, none? I could easily accept that, it seemed better than the limited options offered give the risks associated with them.

It will be a lot harder and more costly to get insurance after a diagnosis of MS? Some are willing to try anything? I like to see a 50/50 chance of help at least.

I come from the other view point of the spinal tap. Done by some one who knows what they are doing, U had no problems whatsoever. My first LP was when I was in a hypertensive crisis, had nothing to do with MS. My head was in such pain with the hypertension I wouldn't have known if they had cut my arm off. Next day we got up and traveled to Florida to Disney World.

My second one was for my MS. It was done in the radiology department of the hospital. He did it under the guidance of xray so he could know exactly where to put the needle. No mistakes when you do it that way. Next one was when I saw a MS specialist and he wanted to re-run tests. This time was done the same way but they had radiology students or maybe it was premed students, can't remember watching my bare behind!!!! Another piece of cake.

Everyone is different when it comes to any experience with the MS testing, treatments, symptoms, etc because we all have lesions in different places.