What symptoms do thoracic lesions cause?

[Whimpurr]

THank you all very much for sharing your personal experience with the location on of your lesions vs symtoms. If I ever manage to get an appt with the MS clinic, I am going to insist we look further down the spine!

[fromptok]

I have only had MRIs of the head and cervical spine done so far. When I requested one of my thoracic spine, my "neuro NP" said that they didn't like to do them because you had to stay in the tube for a long time. I am just wondering if there are specific symptoms that occur mainly from lesions on the thoracic spine.

Thanks for any information on this!

I had a Tspine MRI done a few months ago....it didn't take any longer than any other MRI. Actually, I don't think it even took as long as the MRI's I've had done on my brain.

[Daisy Mae]

I was diagnosed in April of 2011 and have only had spine lesions. I have had 3 brain MRIs with no lesions. My symptoms are weakness, balance problems, dizziness, vision issues, cognitive issues, fatigue, pain, headaches.. to name a few.

My arms and legs are weak and heavy. I have trouble walking far without resting. If I stand up for too long my back hurts. I am always dizzy and the floor feels like it is moving up and down... kind of like I'm on a boat. I joke with my kids that I would make a bad pirate because I seem to get pretty seasick

I did have a positive LP. My spine lesions are in my cervical and upper thoracic spine only. The lesions are at C3, C4-C5, C6, T1-T2. My neurologist did not seem concerned that my brain scan did not show lesions.

The longest I have been in the MRI tube was for the brain, C-spine, and the T-spine and it took around 1 1/2 hours. And earlier that day I had the spinal tap done! That's when I got diagnosed!! Luckily I was admitted in the hospital at the time. Not a fun day

Hope that helped!

I had another MRI today of my brain and C-spine to see if there are any changes so I will let you know if my brain has any lesions when I get the results.

[MS TOO]

I've been having walking problems, limping and drop foot on my left side. Also weakness, I have to assist getting my left leg into the car by grabbing it and dragging it in.

The last 5 years, my Neuro has only focused on my brain lesions, but my first symptoms that led to suspected MS and 7 years of limboland were caused by what I was told was swelling of my spinal cord. Now some 12 years later my Neuro looks at the chart and says it was really more of a lesion than swelling at T5 so it is time for a T spine MRI.

MRI showed active inflammation with the contrast dye and I just wrapped up 3 days of IV steroids. I have gone to every other year for my brain MRI but I am going to see if I cab have a brain and spine combined MRI from now on so I can monitor my situation closer.

I am now officially secondary progressive and hoping that BG12 proves to be as good as it sounds so far. In the mean time I am sticking with Copaxone as I am used to it and don't want to switch until BG12 is approved so I can give it a try.

[meeshkap]

My specialist sent me for that MRI and it was because I had bladder issues and hyper reflexia in my legs...

[Whimpurr]

I agree Fedup, and I am in fact "fed up" myself as I was seeing a Neurologist's Nurse Practicioner never even met the true Neurologist. This is why my GP has since referred me to an MS specialist but now they lost my faxed medical records over a month ago when they were sent so now my GP has had to re-send them. ALWAYS SOMETHING!

[Fed Up]

I have only had MRIs of the head and cervical spine done so far. When I requested one of my thoracic spine, my "neuro NP" said that they didn't like to do them because you had to stay in the tube for a long time. I am just wondering if there are specific symptoms that occur mainly from lesions on the thoracic spine.

Thanks for any information on this!

It would seem to me, they need to do this, regardless of the lame, excuse. I've had my entire spine done, at once. It takes a little over an hour. The machine gets a bit warm, and I had syncopy, when it started getting warm.

The fact of 'time,' seems like a lame excuse. imho. fed

[Whimpurr]

!!THanks so much. I am currently trying to get into an MS specialist clinic but the lost my records so my GP had to re-send them. SO frustrating! I think that once I get to see a specialist, I will be begging for a full spinal MRI.

[Kickboxer2]

Yes, the large lesion was at C5, that was my second one, then within the year six new ones from C all the way down to T. My Nero was concerned at the progression from the two isolated lesions (three years apart), to the six that showed up in June. This was within the year.

I also had other issues over the five year period that did not go away, terrible balance, sensory pain, ms hug, pins and needles and fatigue. I did do a run of steriods as well as pain meds, however now I am just on Copaxone.

I exercise three nights a week still and keep moving. I find that helps me the most and makes me sleep better. I do however think that in the past month I do have spinal activity given past reoccurring symptoms.

It is so different for all of us and the nero's all seem to have different diagnose triggers. Makes it very difficult to really know.

If I were you, I would request the complete scan. Better to know and not feel "crazy" and to address all of your concerns. I agree that there is not much you can do if you know for sure, but it may bring you piece of mind. It did for me, given I didn't have any brain lesions we finally found the cause of my symptoms.

Best of luck! Keep me posted how you make out.

[Whimpurr]

Hi everyone! yes, I have had all the spinal (and brain)MRI's done annually for five years now. All my lesions are in the cord and have effected mobility with arms and legs.

So far, I have not had any visual symptoms, however all the other fatigue problems exist. I suffer from sensory issues, hot and cold as well as spasicity. Just started Copaxone three months ago. I am hoping for positive results.

My MRI's are usually 1.5 hours with a break half way through.

My first lesion was only 2 mm in my lower spin and caused complete disability in my left leg for six months. The next outbreak was a 7mm lesion on the top which caused loss of my right arm and my legs for a short period of time. Two years later I still have arm issues. Last MRI showed six more lesions, but I didn't loose any mobility, but it created other symptoms.

All the best to everyone for a Happy New year and a positive year ahead.

Thank you SO much for your reply! So you have no brain lesions and yet my Neuro NP assumes they have to be in the brain first. *sigh* When you said your next episode was on top .... what did you mean? Did you mean the upper spine as in the thoracic or as high as the cervical spine? The lumbar is lower back, thoracic is mid to upper back and the cervical is neck and base of head. I have lots of leg pain and weakness as well as arm pain and weakness so that is why I am wondering if they are missing lesions further down past the cervical spine!

[Kickboxer2]

Hi everyone! yes, I have had all the spinal (and brain)MRI's done annually for five years now. All my lesions are in the cord and have effected mobility with arms and legs.

So far, I have not had any visual symptoms, however all the other fatigue problems exist. I suffer from sensory issues, hot and cold as well as spasicity. Just started Copaxone three months ago. I am hoping for positive results.

My MRI's are usually 1.5 hours with a break half way through.

My first lesion was only 2 mm in my lower spin and caused complete disability in my left leg for six months. The next outbreak was a 7mm lesion on the top which caused loss of my right arm and my legs for a short period of time. Two years later I still have arm issues. Last MRI showed six more lesions, but I didn't loose any mobility, but it created other symptoms.

All the best to everyone for a Happy New year and a positive year ahead.

[SNOOPY]

example, the "MS hug" .. where are the lesions responsible for it located?

Although the term used is "MS Hug" this symptom is not exclusive to MS, there is no symptom(s) unique or exclusive to MS. In MS this symptom is usually caused by a lesion(s) on the cervical spinal cord.

[Whimpurr]

I want to know: what good is it knowing you have lesions on your spine and in your brain ? What good is it knowing where the symptoms will occur? If these lesions cause loss of mobility, you can't fix it. If the lesions on your spine cause loss of vision or loss of feeling (dexterity) in your hands, you can't fix it ! Whatever physical losses occur from this disease, there is no reversing it. There is a chance to stop the progression but nothing has ever been shown to reverse the disability that has already occurred. Good luck

Once you have an MS definite diagnosis then I agree, it doesn't make much difference. Because they only repeated my brain MRI and found no additional lesions which has kept me in limboland then that is why I am wondering if there might be more somewhere else such as the thoracic or lumbar spinal regions. For example, the "MS hug" .. where are the lesions responsible for it located?

[Barbkane]

My primary doc scheduled me for the cervical and lumbar MRIs before I even saw the neurologist. On Dec 20th I had the thoracic and brain MRI done with contrast. It only took about an hour, wasn't bad at all! My neuro said the symptoms I am experiencing are due to damage in the brain or spinal cord, so it was done to dx me.

[JerryD]

I want to know: what good is it knowing you have lesions on your spine and in your brain ? What good is it knowing where the symptoms will occur? If these lesions cause loss of mobility, you can't fix it. If the lesions on your spine cause loss of vision or loss of feeling (dexterity) in your hands, you can't fix it ! Whatever physical losses occur from this disease, there is no reversing it. There is a chance to stop the progression but nothing has ever been shown to reverse the disability that has already occurred. Good luck