Migraines and MRI

I've been reading a lot about MRI/MRAs (just had one) and I've seen several references to complicated or atypical migraines actually showing up on MRI.  Has anyone else experienced this and how did they differentiate it from MS? by symptoms?

Just a little background... I've had migraines since I was 15 years old (24 years).  They've cycled from bad to not-so-bad to bad again to awful.  I'm currently in the awful stage.  I'm also being investigated for autoimmune disease and currently have the diagnosis of Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease.  Many of my current symptoms have my neuro sitting up and taking notice (facial numbness, cognitive dysfunction, balance issues, etc) and I think she's trying to rule out MS with the MRI/MRA, EEG (which I'll have today) and a full neruo-psych work-up.

 

~Lauren

Lauren,

Migraines are so hard for a doctor to say oh yes she has migraines because this test says so. There is nothing a doctor can see or do to confirm migraines. So they use every test that they do know and rule out things one by one. My doctor has checked me for epilepsy, brain abscesses, horner syndrome, fibromyalgia, ms and many others. So far I have been lucky and he hasn't found anything so we are left with migraines. Most people who suffer from migraines have clear, mri,ct, and eeg. And you want all thoses test to come back clear!!! If they don't then you usually have a bigger problem. So try not to worry until you get the results back ok? Good luck and post soon I'll be thinking of you.

Ashley

We're glad to have you Lauren!!!

I don't have much to say about the weird incidents with the EEG...What did the doctor say? Oh, and thanks for the link-I had heard about that before regarding white matter lesions on the brain in migraineurs...it is definitely interesting stuff.

Sara

P.S.  A buddy of mine on another board suggested that the odd occurrences during the EEG were a seizure.  You'd think that if that's the case, they would have called me!