ABNORMAL MRI-NO SYMPTOMS

Perhaps results of the other tests will narrow the focus of attention for you and the doctor.  Presumably you've told him about the Bell's Palsy? I have heard of folks who have experienced that, and found that it was a sort of "precursor" to MS developing later -- not that Bell's Palsy really is a precursor...but what they had wasn't really Bell's Palsy at all, but problems with facial nerves that sometimes happen with MS.

Lots of us overlooked stuff early in our course of developing MS, thinking "everyone has that!", or being told "everyone feels that way!" by people around us.  So that certainly is a possibility. 

Also, lesions can appear long before any external signs are evident. In fact, people have died of other causes, and had an autopsy done -- and lesions have been found that were suggestive of MS, yet the person had no external signs! So that's a possibility.

And lesions can appear for other reasons than MS -- migraines, some infections of the central nervous system, vascular problems -- all can lead to lesions. So the doctor is being prudent to run all sorts of other tests to rule out -- or rule in -- all other possible causes of problems, before giving you some firm diagnosis.

I hope you get some direction from the test results.

(Done! ;)

Post Edited By Moderator (rhondab) : 3/29/2007 9:11:36 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Allison,

I was diagnosed with MS last year.  Prior to my attack last year, I did not have any symptoms that I could recall, yet I have 4 lesions (2 active, 2 not active).  My neurologist said MS can be silent, lesions can appear without symptoms.  I suppose it just depends on where the demylination is occuring, i.e. if they are on the brain stem....symptoms would be more problematic (at least that was the case for me).  Hope this helps.

Blooo

Hi Allison,

 l had my first ms attack 4 yrs ago. When l had my mri l had 4 lesions in my head and several lg lesions on my spine. Not all the lesions were active . l was told that l must had attacks sometime in my past and wasn't aware. There is nothing l can pinpoint. However  looking back on the year before the attack l can remember several odd incidents that only lasted a short while. Certainly nothing to see a doctor about. l had blurry vision that came and went but it only lasted one day. l was incontinent  once. Never had any problems before with bladder so l thought may be l had a slight infection. My balance was slightly off but l thought l was out of shape and joined the gym. 

You are given a dye when having your mri that tells the drs whether or not your lesions are active.

lf your other tests still indicate ms this is a great site for information and support.

Jorie

I am very interested in your story because mine is virtually identical.  I am 37, had a sudden weird sound in my left ear, went to a ENT who diagnosed mild hearing loss and scheduled an MRI, and the MRI came back with perventricular white matter abnormalities.   I am currently being told I may or may not have MS and am going through a ton of tests.  I also have no other symptoms nor did I previously.  My situation gets even a little more curious because 10 days prior to my hearing problem I was severly rear-ended in car accident.  At the time of the accident I was fine, however, a week after I started getting a stiff neck and then the hearing loss started.  How are you doing now?  Did you by chance have any trauma prior to your hearing problems?