C-spine & brain stem....

[CookieMonster12]

I may have asked this question before...but I can't recall and I can't find it.

Would a cervical spine MRI pick up the brain stem?

The reason I asked this is...I've read that facial symptoms could possibly be from brain stem lesions.

Anyone have the 411 on this? I've Googled it and have read that it does include the brain stem...and some say it does not.

THANKS!

[MarkLavelle]

Part or all of the brainstem may appear on one or the other, but I believe doctors order a scan of the brainstem if that's what they want to look at.

[CookieMonster12]

Thanks

Thanks Mark. Did I read you have facial symptoms?

[MarkLavelle]

I have paresthesia over my whole skin including my face, where it's always the pins & needles kind.

My one large lesion is at C2, which (as far as I can tell) is about as low as a lesion can be and still affect the head.

[CookieMonster12]

Mark

Will you email me? I'm gonna put my email in my profile.

[rdmc]

I have one sided facial and tongue symptoms. Mine comes from a lesion in my medulla that also seems to affect several of the lower cranial nerves.

An MRI I had didn't note a problem, so the neuro asked for another one that zeroed in on the hypoglossal nerve and other nerves in that area because I couldn't move my tongue normally and also have one sided paralysis of my facial muscles.

That MRI revealed the lesion. It's was a brain MRI but evidently with a closer look at the brainstem.

The medulla is the lowest part of the brainstem, and I wasn't aware you could image it on a cervical MRI, but I'm not a radiologist, don't even play one on TV So I googled a bit, and found this article on reading a cervical MRI with this quote:

"At the cervical medullary junction, you’re looking for two things: Chiari malformation, where the cerebellar tonsils descend into the foramen magnum, crowding the cord, and impeding the free flow of CSF in and out of the head. Or you may see an infiltrating tumor in the medulla."
http://neurosurgerybasics.com/cervic...matic-reading/

So I guess that you can see the medulla on a cervical MRI, but I'm pretty sure to get a close image of it, you'd need a brain MRI. Too bad Rex hasn't been around, he would know the answer.

[CookieMonster12]

Thanks

I just want an answer as to why my face burns like all get out. The anxiety thing is not satisfying me. Why won't a neuro order a brain MRI if I've had this going on for years and my last MRI was in 2005?

[MarkLavelle]

I don't think I can provide any particular insight about your burning feeling. It's a symptom I've never had, and I'm sure it can have more causes than most doctors know about.

I've been pretty lucky with doctors of all kinds, but I've also had one stop at a neuro who left the room saying, "call me when you have more symptoms!" (I haven't been back). When that kind of thing happens, I think you just have to keep looking for a doctor who is willing to keep looking (at you!) himself.

[rdmc]

Have you researched "atypical trigeminal neuralgia"? Trigeminal neuralgia isn't always associated with MS, nor is atypical trigeminal neuralgia...it can be a stand alone symptom.

Try plugging "atypical trigeminal neuralgia" into google and see if the symptoms fit your symptoms.

Has any neuro given you a reason for the pain?

[22cyclist]

You need a head MRI to look at the brain stem in depth. It can provide many more slices and can provide a better look.
I would ask for a head MRI with special attention to the brain stem. That will take care of your TN or atypical TN.

Good luck!
Lisa
Moderation Team

[cali1892]

I have a "large brain stem lesion", I don't know where, that's all he said. My MRI was brain and c spine so I don't know which one it showed on. And I my face burns, not all over mostly left cheek area. My tongue also burns and some times i can't taste things very well. No pins and needles in my face or tongue.

[CookieMonster12]

Cali1892

Cali...is your burning like a skin deep superficial sunburn sensation? My face can burn all over...sometimes left...sometimes right. Right now, it's just the left side. It covers the entire left side of my face and around the left side of my mouth. Not really on my forehead though. In a while it many be my right side. The past few days it's been my entire face. It's stings and is very painful.

I am going to insist on an MRI that would pick up brain stem. I'm sick of no answers.

[cali1892]

Cookie, yes it is. And yes it it does go towards my mouth as well.
Sometimes when air hits it makes it worse. I have also had areas of my lip go numb too.

When I told my neuro about it she kinda looked dumb founded. Said she had never heard of it. She has since referred me to ms specialist and he did not seem surprised by.


Good luck.

[CookieMonster12]

Thanks

Interesting. I've been told mine is from anxiety for years. My last brain MRI was in 2005 and c-spine was 2002 or 2003. Nada. The 2005 MRI in 2005 was by an MS specialist at a top MS center in the Houston Mesical Center. He said I was fine. Drs I've seen since then think I'm fine since that MRI was clear. I had two brain MRIs prior to that (2004 and 1996).

I am sure this burning can be from a number I things...I'd just like an answer other than anxiety.

[CookieMonster12]

Interesting. I've been told mine is from anxiety for years. My last brain MRI was in 2005 and c-spine was 2002 or 2003. Nada. The 2005 MRI in 2005 was by an MS specialist at a top MS center in the Houston Mesical Center. He said I was fine. Drs I've seen since then think I'm fine since that MRI was clear. I had two brain MRIs prior to that (2004 and 1996).

Oops. Typing on my phone...I meant Medical Center. And I typed too many 2005's. lol