Is it possible to have multiple sclerosis today if MRI was clear 5 years ago?
A person can get a clear MRI even when they have MS. It is theorized that the lesions can be too small for the MRI to pick-up at the onset of the disease. But please do not entertain the idea that you have MS since there are no less than 25 diseases and conditions that mimic every symptom of multiple sclerosis. I know that is difficult waiting for a diagnosis, but please do not terrorize yourself with thoughts of diseases that you fear. The majority of people who think that they might have MS never get diagnosed with it during their lifetimes. And if all your doctors have done so far is send you for an MRI, they have barely scratched the surface in coming to a diagnosis. The doctors probably told that they think that you have herniated disk. If they told you that you had a herniated disk before doing any tests, you need to find yourself new doctors right now because their indicate they have larger egos than brains. At any rate, I have had multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years, During those twenty years, I have worked on my masters, changed careers, bought and sold a few houses, worked out at the health club three to four times a week and continued my social life. Somewhere in between 10-15% of those of us who get diagnosed do have a very progressive form of the disease. The rest of us live relatively normal lives. The very best of luck to you.
Is it possible to have Multiple Sclerosis but not have it show up right away on an MRI?
I have had strange sensations/symptoms for about six years. I saw a doctor back in 2006 and she sent me to see a Neurologist. The Neurologist, after running the usual tests was thoroughly convinced that I had Multiple Sclerosis but wanted to see an MRI of my brain to confirm that diagnosis. After the results came back with no signs of lesions, he told me that it wasn't MS and that he didn't know what it was. I'm currently having the same symptoms flare up again and this time the pain is worse than ever before. I moved to a new state and my doctor wants to send me for an MRI again. I'm wondering, is it possible that I've had MS for six years but it didn't show on the MRI the first time? I'm so confused and very frustrated because I've been living with these symptoms- tingling in toes and feet, numbness in arms, pain behind left eye and blurred vision in that eye, and swelling of my legs and feet, for six years with little relief!
Doc says I have ms, but the MRI was clear, is that possible?
you should notice that Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a clinical diagnosis. There are no clinical findings that are unique to this disorder, but some are highly characteristic. I see here ,in some answers which was before sent, that hey mention CSF finding as a unique method for diagnosis of MS. I should mention here that MS diagnostic criteria from the early 1980s considered clinical characteristics and a number of laboratory studies including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, evoked potentials, and neuroimaging; these findings were then used to place patients in categories ranging from clinically definite to laboratory supported definite to clinically probable to laboratory supported probable MS . we use McDonald criteria for diagnosis nowadays. The 2005 revisions acknowledge evidence that primary progressive MS can be diagnosed in the absence of CSF findings, at least in the presence of typical MS brain lesions on MRI. Thus, there is greater emphasis of clinical and imaging evidence supporting the diagnosis of MS, and lesser emphasis on CSF findings, for a diagnosis of MS in patients with insidious progression of disease from onset. and for your answer,i should ask at first: " what do you mean by clear MRI? is it something that your doctor tell you? does he/she mean new Plaques?" Plaques suggestive of MS are typically found on MRI in the periventricular region, corpus callosum, centrum semiovale, and, to a lesser extent, deep white matter structures and basal ganglia. MS plaques usually have an ovoid appearance, and lesions are arranged at right angles to the corpus callosum as if radiating from this area. The plaques appear hyperintense on proton density and T2-weighted studies, and they are hypointense (if visible at all) on T1-weighted images.The 2005 revisions to the McDonald diagnostic criteria for MSinclude specific MRI criteria for the demonstration of lesion dissemination in time and space. these 2 dissemination is comlex and important in finding MS. if your doctor diagnosis is confirmed and he/she is sure about it, please don't be worry about and accept his/her diagnosis.
Could I have multiple sclerosis?
Hi Monica. Yes, there is a possibility that you have MS. I have had MS for 20 years. Like many people who have this disease I went undiagnosed for a long, long time. The truth is that every single symptom of MS is indicative of no less than 30 or more other diseases and conditions. There is also no one definitive test for MS. Also, the MS lesions do not always appear at the onset of the disease. It's that or else they are too small to show up on the MRI. Keep in mind that neurologists who do not work with MS often have a far more difficult time identifying the disease. For all these reasons, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society maintains a listing of all neurologists who specialize in this disease. It would be a good idea to go to their website at http://www.nmss.org Find your local chapter and contact them. Their counselors and social workers are available for assurance and advice of all kinds. I know that what you are going through is very, very difficult and exasperating. Hang in there. Things do get better. The first test for MS, pathetic as it may sound, was to put someone who was suspected of having MS into a hot tub of water. If they staggered around of fell over after being taken from the water, they were diagnosed with MS. When you have MS, your neurons have a very difficult time sending signals out to the body to tell it want to do. Heat slows or stops the communication. When a person gets diagnosed with MS, they are told to ease up on the hot water. Many of us wind up getting hurt if we do not take this advice. Unfortunately, getting a diagnosis of MS is frequently a long journey and not a singular event. If I can be of any help, do not hesitate to contact me. The very best to you.
Clear brain MRI. Does this rule out multiple sclerosis ?
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by a triad of inflammation, demyelination, and gliosis. Your MRI should have detected any lesions that would indicate MS (greater than 95% of MS cases have had MRI find characteristic abnormalities) but here is some statistical information on multiple sclerosis for you to consider, and if you feel that you are at high risk then you should talk to a local physician. MS is 3 times more likely if you are a woman. Chances of Developing MS 1 in 3 = If an identical twin has MS 1 in 15 = If a fraternal twin has MS 1 in 25 = If a sibling has MS 1 in 50 = If a parent or a half sibling has MS 1 in 100 = If a first cousin has MS 1 in 1000= If a spouse or nobody in your family has MS Here are some Initial Symptoms: Sensory Loss (in 37% of cases) Optic neuritis (in 36% of cases) Weakness (in 35% of cases) Paresthesias (24%) Diplopia (15%) Ataxia (11%) Vertigo (6%) Paroxysmal attacks (4%) Bladder (4%) Lgernutte (3%) Pain (3%) Dementia (2%) Visual loss (2%) Facial palsy (1%) Impotence (1%) Myokymia (1%) Epilepsy (1%) Falling (1%) Most of that probably sounded like Latin so I'll summarize: Weakness of limbs may manifest as a loss of strength Spasticity (muscle spasms) Visual Blurring Sensory symptoms such as tingling and prickling sensations (which you do in fact have) Bladder dysfunction Constipation Depression Fatigue Sexual dysfunction (awkward... haha) Facial weakness Since you haven't suffered any attacks from MS at the very worst you could only have what is called Primary Progessive MS. Patients with this do not experience attacks but only a steady functional decline. This normally occurs later in life (over 40). Sorry that I couldn't flat out state whether or not a 7 month prior MRI would rule out MS (because MS and MS associated lesions are developed at any time and not always present), but I hope this information helps. P.S. By the way Lisa, don't speak for everyone else just because you aren't knowledgeable about this topic...
"Spinal MS" is when demyelination (death of the nerve sheath, leading to permanent neural damage) occurs in the spinal cord, most typically in the cervical (neck) vertebrae (it can occur anywhere in the Central nervous system, including, e.g., the optic nerve.)Questions: Have you been formally diagnosed? If so, what symptoms do/did you exhibit? Can they be otherwise explained (see next point.)Is your MS a formal "diagnosis?" I ask because it is a "diagnosis" of elimination, of necessity achieved via spinal tap as well as standard blood-work: if you have demyelination, and don't have Lyme disease et. al., then your defined as having MS.If you have any CNS demyelination, but are asymptomatic (e.g., you had an MRI for another reason and demyelination was discovered) there is a relatively new (2011) called RIS ("Radiographically Isolated Syndrome") essentially simultaneously identified in the U.S. and Japan. In Japan, it tends to be treated aggressively (i.e., as MS) whereas in the U.S. a "wait and see" approach is generally taken.Also, I presume any diagnosis was made by a qualified neurologist ... ?Although I'm not an MD, let's just say I'm more qualified than most lay people in this area. Please feel free to post any follow-up questions either via Comment or Message.