NeuroTalk Support Groups - Unclear Diagnosis and MRI Madness

Karen, thanks for your reply. My BMI is not obese, so I am not sure that is a factor. Interestingly increased BMI is apparently a risk factor for MS, so being overweight or obese would certainly not rule out MS, it technically means you are at increased risk.

I have stated from the beginning that I am not focusing on MS as a diagnoses, simply assessing the possibility. I understand that brain lesions do not automatically mean MS, but then no objective finding automatically means you have or do not have MS. That's why it's so hard to diagnose and why I am questing the possibility of having MS.

For now I am content it's probably not MS because I have had some symptoms relieved by therapy to relieve trapped nerves in the spine.

I hope your long standing condition improves or can be treated (have you tried cold laser therapy, I know it's not main stream but it's definitely worth looking into).

Quote:

Originally Posted by msbluis (Post 1170437)

After reading several of your posts, I have a few questions and a few opinions.

My first question is, do you know what your BMI is? If you don't know, you can Google it. The reason I ask is because if we ignore your apparently benign brain lesion load, so many of your symptoms could be caused by or a result of being a bit overweight.

Fact: Brain Lesions do not automatically mean MS. Even 8 or 10 of them. Your reports seem to indicate yours are normal for your age and should not be of major concern.

Fact: I, myself have lesions in the brain, "... too numerous to count." I have no problems with anything above my neck. No headaches, dizziness, no TMJ, no Optic Neuritis, and no hearing, swallowing or breathing problems.

Yet my diagnosed version of MS, 20+ years worth, is not related to even one of my brain lesions.
The fact is, I have several sizeable lesions spanning between two or more vertabrae in my C-Spine and my
T-Spine. And no, the spinal lesions do not cause pain. What they do cause in me is quadriplegia. Very few things in my body below my neck work. Not my arms, hands, legs, feet, bladder or bowel. (Heart and lungs are good, for now)

This is just my thoughts, but the symptoms you talk about could be because of being somewhat over -weight for your age and height. Problems with sleeping, (sleep apnea?), Neuropathy pain or numbness, particularly in your feet, ankles or legs, or headaches. General fatigue does not automatically indicate MS.

I sympathise with you for not feeling right, but you seem so focused on your issue being MS, which your own doctor and MRI's don't seem to support, that could it be you have shut out the possibilty of other causes for your symptoms?

Perhaps your GP could help out. He or she could have a CBC done on you as well as a fasting cholesterol test along with a general physical and any other tests he feels necessary to check you out completely and maybe rule out (or in) any other health risk.

We understand you want answers, but sometimes answers can take months or years. We will help you make that journey, if you want some friends.
Karen S