Amy, I would get copies of all your MRI's, your LP report, including all other reports, tests and blood work you have had in the past few years.

I would bring them to both a Rheumatologist and a MS Specialist, perhaps both specialties in a large well known teaching hospital in your area.

I, too, have positive antibodies for Lupus and a few Lupus symptoms, but I did not meet the criteria for Lupus. My ANA count is 1:640. It may go down to 1:320 which is only one test different from the other higher number. Normal is 1:40 Next is 1:80 low positive. It doubles with each test they do on it. It only sounds high.

My MS Specialist said many people with MS have a positive ANA. As for Sjogren's that too must have more tests done to confirm it by a Rheumatologist.

As for spots on the brain, you can have many and not have any disability at all or any bad symptoms. Then you may have only one or two spots and have disability. It is all location, location, location.. in the brain.

Also it is the size of the lesions, and if they are active (bright spots) or have turned to scars or dark holes. Some heal and remyelinate.

Amy see these doctors for second opinions and find out for sure what you dx is. You could have more than one. Multiple Autoimmune dx's are not uncommon. I have a few myself. Lupus they always try to throw into my mix, but so far I don't have it.

There are lots of blood tests you need to get. Good Luck on your road Amy.

Thank you again Lady!

I appreciate the information regarding the number of lesions! I really didn't know the the number of lesions doesn't necessarily mean that things are bad. It has really calmed my nerves down! I checked my ANA and it is 1:640, but will find out much more once I get into see the Rheumatologist in 1 1/2 weeks. I have requested a referral to a specialist in MS and I am just waiting to hear when my appointment is scheduled for. Thank you again for all of your information, you have helped me more than you can imagine!

Spinal Column - I don't know what the article is stating for each vertabrate but it doesn't look right to me.

My spinal cord's cut 99% at C7 (now degenerated to C6.5) and if the chart was correct, i'd be dead? Broke C7 in 1989 motorcycle accident.

Before MS, I had full hand motor & sensory, numbness started slightly above nipple line (couldnt feel a thing below nipple line) and bottoms of forearms were numb.

In reference to MS, you are right -- the information is not correct.

MS lesions are located on the spinal cord not the vertabrate.

This is a very old thread.

It was a "sticky" at one time but I asked for it to be "unstuck" a long time ago due to incorrect information for MS.

I recently had major complications from a simple vaginal hysterectomy which produced massive ball of infection, 7 day stay in hospital, pleurisy, drain in back side for 2 weeks to drain the infection and then 4th day home I came down with TOTAL vertigo...could hardly walk the first few days....I have had mild vertigo as an MS relapses 2 times before...but because I still had active infection in my body my Neurologist and the other docs said NO steroid infusion until infection was under control/gone. This took another 30 days. The entire 30 days the vertigo calmed down bit by bit, but did not go away. It has now been 2 1/2 months of mild vertigo and they finally did an MRI and found a new hypersensitive (spelling?) lesion in the posterior splenium corpus callosum. But when researching this, it says it effects cognitive, et al and I cannot necesarily find vertigo symtoms from lesions in this area and am wondering how vertigo might be associated with cognitive and I am wondering if this lesion is causing my continued vertigo. Any answers???

Thanks so very much!
Verniechaos

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

Sounds like you have had a terrible harrowing experience.

I would like to ask you what antibiotics you used.

This is because, metronidazole, causes lesions in the brain and nerve damage.

Also fluoroquinolones like Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox, are neurotoxic and may damage nerves in some people. The "flox" reactions are thought to be worse if the person is on steroids or NSAID pain relievers.

When a person is in dire straights, and needs an antibiotic specifically, often the benefit vs risk is weighed by the doctor in favor of ridding the patient of the infection. So that damage may be unavoidable in some cases.

Typically doctors do not know this, and will hesitate to even tell you if they did know.