Should I be asking for a MRI of the Brain?

Hi All

This is my first time posting here, I found the forum thru Google. What a wealth of information in here!

A little about me: I suffered an unstable fracture to my T12 vertebra, without spinal cord damage back in 1995. This injury was corrected by inserting screws and rods into my spine and having a spinal fusion from my T11 - L1.

Over the years I have had bouts of neurological symptoms such as numbness, tinglings, brisk reflexes, loss of balance. I've had abnormal SSEP and nerve conduction tests, but the results were dismissed due to my back injury.

On March 27th this year, I had the screws and rods removed due to back pain from them becoming lose. Initially after the surgery I was fine. Four weeks post op my sensory disturbances/neuropathic symptoms have returned and have continued to get worse. My neurosurgeon ordered an MRI of the thoracic spine region, which I had last week, but it has come back clear. However, I'm still having sensory disturbances/neuropathic symptoms such as:

*Numbness & tingling that would happen occasionally in my feet. It has since returned and spread to my torso.
*When I tilt my head forward, I get an electric shock feeling in my feet and legs (New symptom in past four weeks)
*A tight band of pressure around my chest, just under my breasts. It feels like my bra is too tight, and it feels like I am still wearing one, even after I take it off.(New symptom in past four weeks)
* Sometimes there is a tinge of yellow to my vision (Off and on over past few years)

I'm beginning to wonder if my symptoms are not related to my spine, but are in fact symptoms of MS? Do you think I should ask my neurosurgeon (I am seeing him again tomorrow) to order a MRI of the brain to look for lesions? How soon would lesions appear if it were MS?

Thanks in advance for your input on this

Regards
MM

Hi Gretchen

Thank you very much for your prompt response. I didn't think that the neck thing would be related to my T12 because that area is around the belly button, and I have never had any neck problems except for this new symptom. Thanks for explaining them to me.

I'll tell my neurosurgeon tomorrow.

Would a LP diagnose it any quicker or be any more accurate ?

Thanks
MM

Hi Gretchen

I forgot to ask, do the 'MS Hug' and 'L'Hermmites sign' stay around for good or are they intermittent?

Thanks
MM

Thanks again Gretchen.

I am seeing my neurosurgeon @ 4:30pm today - Australian time - and I have made list of my new symptoms in order of their appearance.

I'll be sure to come back and let you know how I made out.

MM,

Thanks for the update.  Keep us posted. 

I have not found anything that helps with nerve pain.  I hope you do.

If you have a flexible schedule, you might want to ask to be put on the MRI cancellation list.  That might get you in earlier. 

I just found this on Wikipedia regarding the Neurotin:

Gabapentin is frequently used to treat various types of Neuralgia. It has been found to be effective in prevention of frequent migraine headaches,[6] neuropathic pain[7] and nystagmus,[8] and is prescribed off-label (that is, without formal regulatory agreement) for these conditions. Gabapentin is widely believed to help patients with post-operative chronic pain (usually caused by nerves that have been severed accidentally in an operation and when grown back, have reconnected incorrectly) and nerve pain associated with spinal cord injury. It may be effective in reducing pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis.[9], and has also had success in treating certain instances of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.[10][11]

Hi Nurse K!

Thanks for sharing your experience with Neurotin.  I was initally put on tegretol, but if left me feeling like a zombie, unable to look after my two year old, so my GP swapped me to Epilim.  My neurosurgeon has put it in writting to my GP that he wants my meds swapped ASAP, I just need to see if I have to have a 'dry out' period between meds.

My possible 'MS Hug' has lasted two weeks, which is making me think that maybe it's anxiety instead.  When I saw the neurosurgeon last Thursday, he said my T10 vertabra was clear, there was nothing to indicate to him what could be causing the sensation. I explained to him, that this symptom occured after the MRI, which was taken on May 27th.

Which leads me to a question: If this symptom happened after the MRI, would there be a lesion at the T10 level now?  If my MRI on June 29th shows a lesion(s) just on the cervical spine, but none on the brain is it still considered MS? And sorry, one more question, if there are lesions on my brain will the neurosurgeon be able to say 'ok, this lesion is affecting this part of your body, and this one this part'?

Thanks in advance for your input on this.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend

MM

as a nurse, what i see daily, you MUST be your own advacate!! If you think something is wrong, there is something wrong. I tell all my patients, if they are uncomfortable with the diagnosis they got, or lack of, get a second opinion. If you feel there is a clinical reason you should have a test, such as an mri--do some research--ie the symptoms you are having, tell the dr why you want the test, any good dr will respect your wishes and order your test. Dr's who dont, obviously are not listening to you, find a new one!! You know yourself better then anyone!

Good Morning Ladies

NURSE K: A journal is a great idea. I have jotted down my recent symptoms, but prior to this everything was dismissed due to my 'back injury'

I've gone over some reports that. and I had a few more questions, I hope you gals don't mind.

In 2006 I complained of numbness, tingling, & burning of the pinky and ring fingers on both hands. The outside of my wrist and arm felt numb, and was sometimes itchy. Sometimes, the pain went upto my arm pit. My GP sent me for a never conduction test, to check my for carpal tunnel syndrome - the test came back negative, I just assumed I was spending too much time at the computer studying & writing assignments. When I was having the test, I mentioned to the Dr performing it, that I was actually have the same feeling in my feet. He did a quick test on both toes and after reporting I was negative for carpel tunnel he noted that 'The patient seemed to have an extensor plantor respone on the right and neurosurgical or neurological investigation of the cervival cord/canal may be warranted' For the record,no action was taken on this observation. I mentioned it to my neurosurgeon on my last visit and he said it meant I had a positive babinski reflex. The hand symptoms are back now and my computer use is less that in it was in 2006, it what I am describing a symptom of MS?

In May 2008 my neurosurgeon sent me to a neurologist for 'Motor & Sensory Nerve Conduction Tests', these came back negative, showing now sign of peripheral neuropathy. The neurologist said 'The clinical finding suggest sensory disturbance. This could be evaluated further with a sensory evoked potential study if that would be helpful' Again, no action was taken. As mentioned in my first post, still having problems with the sensations in my feet and legs.

Anyone care to comment on this LOL
MM

Hi Gretchen

Sorry about the typos in my last post, I was typing with Mackenzie on my lap, she's facinsated with the computer. Glad you could understand what I was saying

I remember about 10 years ago, I had really bad gait.  I would stumble into the corners of walls, the floor felt uneven, I couldnt walk with one foot in front of the other (like being on a balance beam) and I was getting bad dizzy spells.  I remember going for a test where I was on my stomach and they put needles on the backs of my legs and up my spine, and I wore something around my head to measure the responses.  I remember another test where I had to look at a flashing screen.  I know after these tests I was given an MRI of the brain but it was clear.  I tried last week to track down the tests results, but being so long ago, I was unsuccessful.  I've had a positive babinski for a while now, I even remember a psyhio commenting on it last year.  Remember, I have no spinal cord injury, well at least not from the T1-l5 vertabra, as MRI taken on May 27th was clear.

When I see my GP on Wednesday I am going to ask him for a referal to the MS Clinic at the local hospital. There, I can get all the tests done for free, rather than having to go to a private neurologist and pay for them.

Could what I described about my hands be a symptom, or perhaps I've just over used them.

Thanks

MM

Hi Gretchen

Thanks for the asymmetrical explanation. I have a numb 'band' so to speak, it feels as though it goes right around my right leg, just below the knee, whereas my left foot just feels tingly and burning. Nothing to do now but wait. I don't want to be one of those people who sifts through the threads reading stuff, and makes myself worry more, if you know what I mean? If I get a positive diagnosis, then I'd like to read the threads so I can be better informed. I'll be sure to check in once I start getting some results in, and if any strange symptoms appear.

Just want to thank you ladies again for your input.

Speak Soon
MM