What else can happen besides vertigo?

Chris also has lesions in his brain stem, it's scary but so far I don't see any additional sx's other than his normal balance issue.

Well, this I believe is off 'theory' more so than an MRI showing said brain stem lesion....meaning, I never sat down with my neuro and combed over the MRI film of little or big white glowing lesions. He saw it, I didn't. I don't think he wants me to see it... other than he'll tell me, "Placement matters, number of lesions does not".

I had vertigo terribly twice, and I've been suffering with burning mouth syndrome (believed to be neurological in nature by 2 neuros) for a year. Both my neuro and another neuro I saw said that it's likely a brain stem lesion causing the burning mouth issue.

As far as other 'symptoms' arising from this, it's hard to say. I've had girdle sensation and L'Hermittes sign among many different symptoms.

The burning mouth is the pinnacle of 'not fun' . But it's been there for so long now, I'm beginning to find ways around it so to speak... ways of easing the discomfort.

Brainstem lesions do sound scary but what I try to remember with this nasty disease is that very little is predictable. Trying to figure out what will happen based on lesion location is often just a guessing game, imo. Hang in there, Jules

There's a sticky at the top of the MS Forum called Lesion Location and Symptoms: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread3436.html


You could probably try a Web Search of 'Symptoms of Brain Stem Lesions', and see what comes up.

The critical point is whether they become active, and just how active they become. That is true of any lesion.

I know many people who have spinal lesions, and over 20 - 30 yrs have never had any problems what-so-ever from them. When some people hear "spinal" or "brainstem" lesions, it conjures up all kinds of scary scenarios . . . but this is not what happens for most people.

Why do you want to know, friend? I can tell you what the brainstem controls, but it is probably one of those definitions I would consider offering on a "need to know" basis. Are you are having symptoms that you think might be related to the brainstem, and you have a brainstem lesion that you know of . . . is that where this is coming from?

Cherie

Dear Friend,

I am sorry that you are experiencing a new flare with possible brain stem lesions. My brain stem lesions have given me my biggest issues. Some of my brain stem lesions continued to enhance, with contrast om MRI, for more than one year. It was very unusual and very concerning for my neuros.

My brain stem lesions were located on my pons and my medulla. They have caused several autonomic dysfunctions including increased heart rate, poor temperature regulation, feeling very short of breath with no cause (respiratory centers are located here), and arrhythmias. My biggest problem was difficulty in swallowing that took over a year to improve and the loss of my gag reflex (has not returned).

I hope that your lesions are not in the brain stem and that your neuro can identify the lesion locations for you based on your recent MRI. I know that lesion location does not always correlate to symptoms but my neuros were dead on when my symptoms presented. They knew the MRI was going to show brain stem lesion and they were right. Hope you feel better soon.