clear MRI?

[bestillnknow]

Hi I have been dealing with several symptoms of MS. My mri of brain and spine seems clear. My neuro says we will keep checking. Has anyone else had a clear reading w textbook symptoms?

[SNOOPY]

Hello bestillnknow and welcome to MSWorld.

There are no "textbook" symptoms of MS, no symptom or symptoms that are unique to MS. Many conditions can cause Neurological symptoms.

There is a diagnostic Criteria for MS (The McDonald Criteria). The MRI is a big part of that diagnostic criteria. Having your neuro follow you is a good thing. It can take time for brain and/or spinal cord abnormalties to show.

Have you had other testing to rule out othe conditions that might be causing your symptoms? That is an important part in the diagnostic process as many conditions can overlap and seem like one condition when in reality symptoms can be caused by another problem.

As far as getting a diagnosis of MS with clear MRIs: It can happen but it is not that common and can take longer to reach a diagnosis.

My diagnosis was based on my neuo exam, a positive Lumbar Puncture and symptoms. I had many other tests which all came out fine. This was a ver long time ago.

[Shashi]

My MRIs were clear from 2006 (when all my weird symptoms hit the fan) until 2010, when five lesions showed up. However, they are all in the wrong place or the wrong shape or whatever, so though I do have symptoms of MS, I do not have a diagnosis and probably never will because I've given up looking for answers.

As Snoopy said, there are many other conditions which can mimic MS such as Vit. B12 deficiency, Lyme disease, lupus, etc. Have you been tested for those?

[minivanmama]

Sorry that you are looking for answers. You have been given some good advice so i can't add any more.

Keep hanging in there and know that we are here anytime you need us. Keep looking for answers.

(((hugs)))

[Eliza Doolittle]

Clear MRI here too...

I had an MRI 4 years ago of my brain. It came out normal. Since then, My sx have gotten worse and more intense and more of them. I am going to Dr. soon and see about getting another MRI. I would probably have had a dx sooner but I have no health insurance and I am working. Don't qualify for Medicaid. Limboland and uninsured.

Don't give up. Maybe they can do some other tests for MS like Evoked Potentials or Spinal Tap. I haven't had those yet....Best wishes and I hope and pray you feel better my friend.

[bestillnknow]

thanks

Thanks to everyone who have been so kind to respond to my post. This has been so hard. My neuro has checked for everything else. I haven't had a spinal tap or evoked response test. I'm a type A person and hate being out of control.txting is hard because my fingers do what they want. I think I slept through most of last year. I would love any tips or info you could give.

[tazaaa]

ive been dealing w ms symptoms for 5 years and my mris have been mostly clear i had one that the lesion on spine disappeared from one to another mri within 6 months ive aslo had spinal tap and that came back w 1 postive band , ill find out out august 27th what the charity care neuro department is going to say my primary doc says i have 5 % chance of being diagnsoed w primary progressive due to recent decline with in past 6 months if not ill just have to keep going with out diag

[GigglyWiggles]

Ive had my sx for just over a year now...prob for all of us Ms'ers is that sx change and can be fleeting and it's difficult to dx in early stages.

I am also one of you with clear MRI, but I have a positive spinal tap...so my neuro is really puzzled lol. Hang in there...i know it's not easy...boy do I know...

[Eliza Doolittle]

YEP!

I had a clear and normal MRI 4 years ago (and not the spinal tap or e. potentials). I just went to the doc. and he told me about "hypersensitivity" disorders that mimic MS. He gave me Cymbalta to try.

I went online and read all about fibromyalgia and it is SO like MS, but no lesions, etc. AND it most closely matches my symptoms. I really couldn't believe it. I am scheduling another MRI to rule out MS and trying the Cymbalta. I had no idea about this. There's better info. out there about Fibro. and all the potential sx. I urge you to look into it. Best wishes. I hope you feel better.

[lovedbydogs]

clear mri

My journey started 11 years ago when I woke up almost totally blind in my left eye. My MRI was clear and they could not find anything that may have caused this so I was told to "wait til the next shoe drops". I did have some weakness and other neurological symptoms along with heat sensitivity and severe fatigue that came and went. Finally about 6 years ago the lesions showed up. I was diagnosed with progressive MS and put on Copaxone. I also started to take LDN. My spinal tap and evoked potentials were fine. When I went for a second opinion the MS specialist at Vanderbilt told me he did not think it was MS and suggested I stop the Copaxone and take a wait and see approach. All this time I was seeing a good opthamologist and she kept telling me I definitely had an inflamatory problem of some kind and that my vision was worsening as this progressed. She had me see another neurologist and a neuro opthamologist that both agreed something neurological was going on but weren't convinced it was MS. I am now a limbo lander. My vision in my right eye is getting pretty dicey and it is very difficult to be undiagnosed as you watch yourself progress. My drs have tested for everything and I still have no answers.