Brain and Cervical MRI Tomorrow
 

Well this saga continues. After a negative EMG my neuro has me set up for a brain and cervical MRI tomorrow.

Slightly nervous they're going to find something sinister on the MRI! Dang hypochondria is flaring up on me again lol

I really don't like medical testing.

Have your symptoms reappeared?

These are appropriate tests if you are still having symptoms.

Brain and Cervical MRI Tomorrow
 

I'm still having symptoms. Nothing debilitating but like you said part of the standard work up.

Can brain tumors cause neuropathy?

In all of my testing, two meningiomas were discovered as incidental findings. I have been assured and reassured that although they have grown over time, it is not possible that they could have caused my PN.

My wife actually has those in her liver. They haven't grown in years but they show up everytime she gets a CT.

MRI complete....

....now the waiting game lol

So question

If my brain and cervical MRI comes back normal and my EMG test was normal but I'm experiencing neuropathy in the absence of diabetes, what would I have? SFN? CIDP?

What further testing would I need?

If you end up like me, you will be submitted for a spinal tap, EEG and additional blood work before labeled "idiopathic" and tried on various anticonvulsants, antidepressants and opioids. Most questions regarding the origin and prognosis of the disease would then be answered with "We do not know" and you would hear a lot of "We can only treat the symptoms".

If there is nerve damage, for some, it could be a mild case or even reverse over time. We are all different along with our individual abilities to heal.

You'd likely get more labs done and hopefully a skin biopsy to check for SFN.

A spinal tap may be ordered, but that is pretty invasive. I bet (after the skin biopsy) they just start shoving meds (the ones Beatle mentioned) at you to see what may help.

Let's hope they do the skin biopsy...most logical for this situation.

Oh yeah...and a biopsy. My lumbar puncture was hell. I could not walk on my right leg for several days after, the neuro would not call me back and to this day I have a weakness in that leg.

Sorry UT, not to frighten you. I think I am a worst case scenario.

Thankfully at this point my symptoms are mild and transient enough I don't need any meds. Unless my condition worsens I'll just keep trucking

It would be really nice if they did the skin biopsy at this stage (early). This way you have a good base line at the start of problems and the test can be repeated as necessary to document progression.

Of course, what would be beneficial to you and what they actually do for next testing may be entirely different things. In my opinion, it makes no sense to wait until the patient is miserable with symptoms before documenting it with skin biopsy...then they may be too far along to reap the benefits of some treatments. Push for them to continue the search NOW while this is still in early stages! You have an opportunity to get a jump on a Dx that most of us never had.

Good luck on your results. I hope you get some answers soon! I am taking Lyrica. As bad as I hate being on medication, my symptoms are too strong without it. I wish you the best. Cool to hear we have something in common. I am not from Winchester, I just met and married my husband from here.

Brain MRI was normal and inconsequential findings in cervical MRI. Good to know I don't have MS or a brain tumor!

I do have chronic sinusitis though lol

Glad to hear they didn't find any major problems. Unfortunately, still no answers for you.................

Yes brain tumors can cause neuropathy, but PN is least of your concern when it comes to brain tumors, depend on where and what kind it is. it causes more serious issues, like dizziness, nosebleeds, balance issues, cognitive disabilities,seizures,,,etc.
Did you get tested for diabetes?

Time for the skin biopsy :wink:

Yes no diabetes

I guess I could pursue that if my symptoms worsen but they are getting better to non existent. It's just a slow process.

Well.. It is great you are getting tests
that do not show alarming results.

But they did indicate that sinus problem..
And this may be the time to stop using
The tobacco snuff you mentioned before.

Consider this a wake up call that your body
Does not like the tobacco. Chronic sinus
Inflammation is not a thing to be disregarded.

Those infections can travel throughout
Your body. Some lifestyle changes are your
Next task.

Take care.

Tobacco snuff - that can be nasty stuff. I used it for a little while way back in college. One night I "overindulged" on it, and I honestly thought my head was going to explode. Spent the next couple days flushing the crud out of my sinuses with a netti pot. Needless to say, that was the last time I touched any snuff. :eek:

Chewing tobacco is also very very unhealthy.

to your mouth, throat, and gums.

I just sent a message to my doctor requesting a skin biopsy.

Ok so it looks like my neuro is going to set up me up for a skin biopsy. He is a neuro affiliated with Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Small fiber neuropathy is a possibility and can be diagnosed with the skin punch biopsy. Otherwise, you may fall into the 20 percent who are idiopathic. Yippeee - NOT.

... and then they toss you in the bin with the others. :grouphug: