MRI

[christmashilly]

If they found something urgent that needed surgery quickly eg if it doesn't happen permanent damage could occur. How quickly would they tell me?

If it was also marked as urgent and the MRI was done in 72 hours of presenting at A&E does this mean the radiologist may look at these results quicker?

I have numbness all over and two legs able to walk on but heavy and no feeling. I'm currently off sick from work and I have no idea when I may get help or when I may become and emergency I did think numbness all over and two legs not functioning would constitute an emergency but unfortunately due to the circumstances in the NHS I feel worried I may be left with permanent damage.

Many thanks

I was called next day after an mri. When was yours? Who ordered it? Sometimes if it's through a consultant you have to wait for that consultant to review it I think. I'm surprised they haven't kept you in hospital with the symptoms you have x

Thank you, it was yesterday late in the afternoon, they did offer me a hospital bed or to go home they gave me a choice and said it wouldn't speed anything up so I came home as it's more comfortable than hospital. Also it's odd to be given a choice and felt like the decision they wanted me to make was to come home. I also haven't met a consultant yet this was all done in A&E. I asked yesterday who the report was going to and they said a name so I assume I've been assigned to them. It's the oddest situation I've ever been in.

Are they looking at CES? Cauda Equina Syndrome?
If the MRI was urgent from A&E it would be looked at urgently (for context my non-urgent MRI took 8 months and then another 8 weeks to be looked at).
Have you not been given any advice or a contact?
I would ring A&E back tomorrow.

Definitely not looking at anything other than questioning cervical radioculopathy haven't mentioned anything else to me at all. I am discharged also as far as they are concerned I tried to ring them yesterday about the MRI and they wouldn't deal with me which is ridiculous considering I don't have a doctor looking after me now. Totally confusing! I'll look up what that is thank you

Who ordered the MRI? Neurology? I agrée with previous poster, numbness like you describe is classed as an emergency. I’d be tempted to go back to an and e tomorrow. As mentioned cauda equina needs ruling out.

Numbness can be caused by wide range of things from vitamin deficiency to MS so really needs following up. Hope you get some answers

I had a similar numbness and similar emergency MRI but as they didn't see anything classed as life threatening on the MRI at the time of the scan I was referred for a lumbar puncture and didn't get the results of the scan until the LP results came back (they were both included in the same letter to confirm a diagnosis)

A&E ordered it, neurology won't even consider my case I've been referred twice once by a GP and once by a consultant and both times rejected and pushed me back to general medicine, my GP did vitamins so B12, vit D, iron folate and now had further full bloods done, I've had diabetes ruled out. So it's not that. It's been brewing on and off for a few years mildly but no numbness at all and then within 3 weeks lost all feeling in the sides of all 4 limbs and 6 fingers and 6 toes and then numbness and heaviness in the two legs it's so odd as can walk on them but they feel dead and heavy. I'm so frustrated I could cry I honestly thought once the dead and heavy thing happened I would be taken seriously and although they've done and urgent MRI I haven't been assigned anyone to my case that I know of and also the previous consultant in A&E thinks it's my neck but I don't have any neck or back pain. Personally when this all started happening I suspected MS but this seems to not even be considered at all. So frustrating and especially what to say to my work when I have no answers.

Do you mind telling me what the diagnosis was and also your long term outcome I am so frightened right now that I'll loose all feeling in my legs for good.

Sounds like you are getting appalling treatment. What’s your GP like? Will they advocate for you?

I didn’t want to say before as didn’t want to worry you but I had very similar symptoms and I ended up with a MS diagnosis. Not to say that’s what’s going on with you, there are other causes of numbness. Most urgently would be ruling out cauda equina.

Could you speak to your GP and get them to chase it. Or failing that have you another hospital in the locality you could present at to get a second opinion?

Thank you for telling me, it's really been on my mind anyway as I've had other things rumbling on like severe exhaustion by evening and leg pains every night for quite a while. I did consider going to a different A&E but don't know if I've left it too late now as I've had the MRI. My doctor is actually really good and she is the one who told me she was very frustrated with neurology that they wouldn't see me and agreed with the a&e registrar that they would both work together to push me to neurology so presented at A&E, they referred me on to neurology and they rejected me again. It's bizarre as I'm sure nerve and spine issues come under them anyway. I think what I'll do is hope to get a phone call with my GP tomorrow and see if she can see on her system what is happening with me in terms of who will view my MRI and see if she can recommend my next steps as I've worsened significantly since I saw her as my symptoms keep building and building so she won't know any of the new information.

I hope that you are ok and your symptoms with MS aren't causing you too much trouble

Hope you get some progress with your GP.

Also wanted to say if it does turn out to be MS, and it’s a big if, that it’s really not the disease it once was due to treatments now available. I am on a brillant treatment that’s highly effective and that ms gave me the kick I needed to be healthier and happier and to live in the moment. No one really knows what the future holds and if you have a diagnosis, whatever it may be, then at least you can do something about it. Xx

That's really lovely and perfect to think so positively I do intend on still being me even if I end up with some kind of disability because I've got plenty in life to make it worth being my best, thank you for those words. I'm glad you are on some amazing treatment pathway and they are taking care of you. I think the minute I have my answer I will feel some relief whatever that may be.

I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS, the numbness went after around 4 months and with a treatment plan things have been stable

Hi @christmashilly how are you? Did you manage to get hold of your GP?

Hi

Thank you for your reply I did manage and my lovely GP followed up with A&E and said I was still being put through to neurology. Because currently my report is just going to a doctor in A&E. she said I should get an appointment soon and will be calling me next week to check how I am and if she needs to intervene again. Also said if anything changes at all and gets worse don't hesitate to go to A&E. I think our similarities of symptoms means that maybe I'm going down your route. I'm so pleased for you that your symptoms have lessoned, we shall see what happens but I will update you, thank you for your support.