[slskckjebw]

I had a T-spine MRI last month and the tech was not able to get all of the contrast in my vein. She said it was rolling around and was only able to get about half of the contrast in.

It really did hurt! I am wondering if that could make a difference in wheter or not the MRI could pick up lesions.

[lady_express_44]

Hi LA

As I recall, the reason they use contrast in our brain MRI's is to see if there are any "active"/inflammed lesions. I guess it might stand to reason that it would be done for the same reason in our spine.

I had (my only) brain and spine MRI's done without contrast, and the results in both instances, showed lesions. Whether they were "officially" inflammed or not, I'm not sure . . . but I had 'em.

They were able to measure my spinal lesions, and confirm which one caused me to be paralyzed (at the time).

Based on my experience, they do not need contrast to see the lesions, only to see if they are active. However, they can determine if they are by our symptoms too though, and a MRI is not even necessary (once dx).

Hope that helps. (Maybe Rex will come around and provide more technical input. )

Cherie

[Erin524]

When I had my spinal MRI in december of 2006, they werent able to get all of the contrast in...the nurse who had drawn my blood the day before had blown the one good vein I had.

But, when they got the results back from that MRI, they were able to see something there. I went back for another MRI a week later, and that's when they were able to see what the something(s) were. Two relatively active lesions on T12 and C4.

I get the feeling they're not so active now, but I was really surprised that they found them at the time.

[FinLady]

My T spine scan was without contrast and they were still able to find some. As stated earlier, contrast is mainly to find out if any of those leisons are "active". They light up under contrast if they are.

[slskckjebw]

Thanks for the responses on this. I alreay have a dx so I guess it does not matter.

I had a couple of lesions on my brain MRI this summer. One old and one new. I am surprised nothing showed on the spine MRI because I do have the MS hug and my lower body is much more affected than my upper.

It just made sense that a lesion might be somewhere along my spine. But,,,,this is just a weird thing I guess.

[Jules A]

I'm kind of suprised to read that the Doctor's orders would be disregarded because a tech couldn't hit your vein. Good news that nothing showed in your spine though.

[lady_express_44]

Originally Posted by slskckjebw

Thanks for the responses on this. I alreay have a dx so I guess it does not matter.

I had a couple of lesions on my brain MRI this summer. One old and one new. I am surprised nothing showed on the spine MRI because I do have the MS hug and my lower body is much more affected than my upper.

It just made sense that a lesion might be somewhere along my spine. But,,,,this is just a weird thing I guess.

My comment about not needing a MRI for them to figure this out (once dx) was really meant for others (without dx) who may misunderstand that they could (possibly) draw conclusions based on symptoms alone. Once we are dx (which you are), then they often make assumptions about what's going on with us MS-wise, without doing MRI's that prove it.

I had given some information on an earlier thread about the hug:

Originally Posted by lady_express_44

The hug, which can cause breathing difficulty, could be as a result of a pseudo exacerbation (due to over-heating, etc.), or it as part of an attack. However, the hug is a symptom of spinal damage/lesions and requires that we have damage in this area (not the brain).

It is a sensory symptom (paresthesia), and occurs as a result of a spasm in our intercostal (rib) muscles. While it may FEEL like we can’t breath or like we are having a heart attack, it does not actually impede our breathing. In and off itself, I am not aware that the hug can cause us to go unconscious or require that we go on a breathing machine for five days. That is why I am particularly concerned about Bob’s experience.

http://ms.about.com/od/signssymptoms/a/ms_hug_pain.htm

L'hirmettes is another sign of spinal lesions. Some of the other symptoms we get can come from either brain or spinal lesions . . . but I won't go into each of them.

I am a bit surprised they only did a T spine MRI, LA. L'hirmettes is a C-spine problem, and (I think) the hug is too. Why didn't they do the C-spine at the same time?

Also . . . bear in mind that spinal lesions can be sneaky, with or without contrast. The contrast is just to help spot active inflammation . . . but I don't think using it makes a difference with regard to actually spotting damage easier (I might be wrong, but I don't think so). However, spinal lesions can be very small, and unnoticable on a MRI, but still cause problems.

I might ask for another MRI, but only if he will request the C-spine too. At the end of the day . . . it probably doesn't matter one way or another though.

Cherie