Brain lesions on MRI - have you had this?

[clemetteattlee]

In May last year I was floored by an intense attack of dizziness. I was off work for a month and although it has subsided I have had mild dizziness ever since. I have fatigue, muscle aches, and numbness/pins and needles as well as horrendous migraines. GP referred me to ENT who sent me for an MRI. I have since been for a further MRI and finally got some results today. The first one showed no tumour but did show white matter lesions ("more consistent with those in the elderly" according to the consultant's secretary who gave me the results). I am back at the hospital on Tuesday to get the results of the second MRI and hopefully some idea of a diagnosis.
I am trying not to panic and know that speculation is essentially pointless but I have read that migraines can cause these lesions so I wondered if anyone out there had these lesions and didn't have MS??

Bumping up for daytime traffic!

I'm sorry that you're having to wait until Tuesday to see someone.

Did they also do an MRI of your spinal cord? Have they performed a LP? Do you know the size of the lesions or how many there are?

As I'm sure you're aware, MS isn't the only illness that causes lesions to form. Lyme diseases amongst other infections can also be responsible and have similar symptoms.

I went through a similar thing that began early in 2011. The dizziness came first, then the tingling and numbness, fatigue, muscle twitching and weakness. MS was suspected but ruled out in October.

I know how anxious you're feeling now but try not to think you far ahead.

Thank you for your reply. I am at a very early stage I know. They sent me for an MRI to see if it was an inner ear problem causing my dizziness and I think they have been surprised to find the lesions. I don't know very much about them because they were reported to me by the secretary (I badgered her a bit!)

Sorry to hear that you have been feeling poorly too. Did you have lesions? Have they given you a diagnosis yet?

They didn't find any lesions on my brain but I was told it was still possible I had MS. They hadn't taken an MRI of my spine or neck.

The consultant has run tests for Lupus and Sarcoid but thinks I have some post-viral CFS which crosses into Fibromyalgia. I had Bell's Palsy in 2010 and it could be related to this.

Try and stay away from Dr Google. It never helps.

Fingers crossed that you make a speedy recovery.

I had the same results from my MRI multiple White leasions. At the time of the MRI I had facial numbers tingling, pins and needles in hands and feet. Awful vertigo and double vision.
I've been diagnosed as having neurosarcoid, still waiting for more tests and follow up.
The symptoms have pretty much all gone though now, only have slight pins and needles and dizziness, although I think this my be down to being very aneamic.

Thanks for your reply. It's scary to hear the word "lesion" isn't it? I hope you get some effective steroid treatment soon.

If it is MS, can anyone tell me how the diagnosis process works?

I had an MRI this year following severe headaches and some visual disturbance.

No one used the lesions word with me but they told me I had a "patch" on my brain which the dr decided was evidence of a stroke. I have never had a stroke, have low blood pressure, etc etc, but he said it could have happened to me in utero. Basically he told me that if you did an MRI on the whole population, one in ten would have something show up and the majority would be completely harmless. I really hope that's the conclusion for you.

Thank you. I hope your headaches have cleared up.

Looking at the archives it seems the are a number of mumsnet terms with MS. I would love to hear from them if they are around...

Mumsnetters even

clem, I was recently diagnosed with MS. I had an MRI of my head and neck, and a neuro examination. They found lesions on my scan, but very 'faint' ones (I think that's how they described it). I think the diagnosis came mainly from the description of my symptoms, and the history of my symptoms, and the scan simply confirmed it. Lesions can apparently be there without it being MS, Also, people with severe symptoms might only have a few lesions, and vice versa, so the lesions aren't (I think) the most diagnostic aspect.

My symptoms were random (mild) dizziness, then a numb torso which went away after a month, then a few months later, tingling in hand and legs, plus a sensation of wearing wet jeans when I walked - a kind of clammy, dragging, cold sensation. I also have a little bit of a flicker in one eye which means if I shift my focus it takes a moment to adjust. Plus lightheadedness and dizziness. The symptoms were quite severe for about 6 months, then they died down quite a lot, atlhough are still there now.

Anyway, hope that's helpful. Try not to panic too much. The fact that things are being investigated is really good, because whatever you do have, you can hopefully get treated early.

Thank you so much for your reply. It sounds ridiculous but in a way i am relieved that they have found "something" because it explains my symptoms and might mean they are treatable.

How have you felt since your diagnosis. Have you found it hard to tell people? Have you had to make any decisions about medication etc?

Thank you so much for your reply. It sounds ridiculous but in a way i am relieved that they have found "something" because it explains my symptoms and might mean they are treatable.

How have you felt since your diagnosis. Have you found it hard to tell people? Have you had to make any decisions about medication etc?

Sorry for slow reply clem. I am also in the camp of preferring to know than not know, if there's something going on, so can understand what you mean. I started on treatment about 3 months ago. I don't know how much difference it has made, but I am working on the principle that it should help in the long-term and so is worth it.

I feel ok at the moment, after 6 long months of feeling pretty wonky. The dizziness/lightheadedness has abated, and the tingling and numbness is much milder and intermittent. Still get very tired, and having a twitchy eye, but all manageable if i pace myself. Luckily i don't have any real pain, just a bit of a heavy, achy feeling in one side but it's quite easy to ignore most of the time. I think the consultant would describe me in the 'well' category of MS sufferers.

Hope you get some answers soon.

Sorry, should have said that the lessening of the symptoms started to happen before I started the treatment.

I've been having neuro problems for about 7 years now, and still don't have a diagnosis. I have the intense migrainey headaches, sometimes cannot speak or move with them. The dizziness and general wobbliness is unpleasant, as are the muscle spasms. Something did show up on a previous brain MRI but I wasn't told what it was. Sorry if this isn't making much sense as my brain just isn't working properly.

So far, the neuro has suggested MS, Parkinsons, Essential Tremor, and at the last appointment he was implying that it's all in my head or I'm barking mad I have also had Bells Palsy in the last few years, and all these symptoms seemed to come on after that.

There is such a thing as functional neurological problems, i.e. the nervous system not functioning properly but no underlying disease causing it. Worth googling Dr Jon Stone of Edinburgh University to find out more.

Thanks for all the further replies. I had my appointment yesterday and the MRI report said Periventricular white matter lesions consistent with migraine with no demyelination yet and I have been referred to an MS consultant for further investigations. This has confused me as if they think it is migraines why are they doing more tests?!

I do have a specific MS question though. Since November I have been having pins and needles in my hands occasionally but for the past two weeks it has been much more frequent. My arms ache and I can feel pins and needles in both hands, especially if I am not using them. Can MS pins and needles come and go or are they there all the time before treatment?

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

They can be episodic/come and go.
(I don't have MS but work in neuro psych settings)

Thank you for your quick reply. I know it does no good trying to diagnose myself but i feel a bit in limbo. Do you know I'd they can be there for half an hour, disappear and then come back half an hour later??

Hi Booby, thanks for that link. Luckily mine isn't a tumour but the lesions are areas of damage in the brain.