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5 White lesions on Brain MRI, Is this MS?

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Posted 10/10/2006 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I have had numbness in my right fingers for over two months now. I had 2 EMG's both normal, cervical MRI without contrast, normal, blood work normal. Then the neuro decided to do an MRI of the brain just to "rule anything out." Said he was very doubtful it would show anything (as was I) but did it anyways. Showed 5 white lesions. Said I am very young to have these lesions (I am 27.) Wants to do an evoked potential test and lumbar puncture to determine if it might be MS. He said it may very well not be MS and just random matter (like could have been born with it.) He said the only reason he even is going to do further tests is that there are no other causes for my arm numbness yet... Didnt like that I did internet research either... Does it seem like I may have MS?? My only symptom is numbness of the fingers and pain in my hand and arm and a little numbness sometimes in my left hand... Little big of leg pain too...
Posted 10/10/2006 9:46 PM (GMT 0)

ConfusedGal said...
Hi,

I have had numbness in my right fingers for over two months now. I had 2 EMG's both normal, cervical MRI without contrast, normal, blood work normal. Then the neuro decided to do an MRI of the brain just to "rule anything out." Said he was very doubtful it would show anything (as was I) but did it anyways. Showed 5 white lesions. Said I am very young to have these lesions (I am 27.) Wants to do an evoked potential test and lumbar puncture to determine if it might be MS. He said it may very well not be MS and just random matter (like could have been born with it.) He said the only reason he even is going to do further tests is that there are no other causes for my arm numbness yet... Didnt like that I did internet research either... Does it seem like I may have MS?? My only symptom is numbness of the fingers and pain in my hand and arm and a little numbness sometimes in my left hand... Little big of leg pain too...

Lesions can appear on the brain for all sorts of reasons .. migraine, brain injury, some infectious disease that occured in the past -- and yes, "random matter that you were born with".  So your doctor is right to continue to test you, particularly since you're still experiencing some numbness in your fingers. 

I'm not sure why he'd suggest that you're "very young" - - MS is commonly diagnosed in people as early as their teens, and certainly in their 20's and 30s.  But with other tests that have been done to rule out other disorders (the EMG and blood tests, for example), the next logical tests would be what he's scheduled, the evoked potentials, and lumbar puncture.

Try to avoid diagnosing yourself via the internet.  You'll only cause yourself anxiety.  Let the doctor complete his tests, and then try to figure out what's going on with you.  Do keep us informed; we'll try to help when we can.

Posted 10/11/2006 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Gracie's Mom...that could be what he meant. Multiple lesions can occur in geriatric patients with those disorders, and obviously at 27 she's not there yet. But of course lesions can occur with lots of other disorders and/or diseases, and it doesn't appear that all those have been explored just yet.
Posted 10/11/2006 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Thanks for the responses. That is what I think the doc meant...That older people get them as a natural process of aging, while I am young to have them without a cause... Can I just ask, what other diseases cause brain lesions that could result in my hand/arm being numb? I know, Lyme, Lupus, and migraines present brain lesions. I have never been bit by a tick, I dont have other symtpoms of lupus nor do I have migraines (sinus type headaches sometimes but no migraines.) I also have "scalloping" under my thumb which I guess means muscle shrinkage. I am scared my hand will stay like this...

Could it be that they are just there for no reason? Like could I have been born with them??? Do a lot of people my age have random lesions for no reason? 5 seems like a lot to me, but I dont know too much about this... Obviously, I am nervous about this whole thing... :(

Posted 10/12/2006 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Brain injury can cause lesions, as can strokes, epilepsy. Strokes and epilepsy can cause some neurological deficits like your numb arm/hand. But of course these are sheer guesses. Until all the testing is done, you're not going to know..and perhaps even then you'll not know, until something more definite shows up. I know the waiting and watching is challenging...but sometimes that's all you can do.
Posted 10/12/2006 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
My Neuro said there is no way for him to know when looking at the MRI whether the lesions are old or new. From looking at them I could see they are quite bright and very round though. One was pretty big. I dont have the report. I should get a copy though...I also need to add that I am Indian.... (born here but of INdian descent.) It's apparently very rare for people of Asian descent to get MS, so if it was the case, I would be rare!

So my question for all of you...Is contrast dye necessary to see lesions?? I had a cervical spine and brachial plexus MRI and it was without contrast. It was done by an arthopedic who was looking more for herniations... So it was without contrast. Should I redo with contrast to see if there are lesions in my spine??

Posted 10/12/2006 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Lesions in the brain are more common than spinal lesions. Generally they'll only do a spinal MRI if there aren't lesions in the brain yet a person still have symptoms that indicate MS (or some other problem). The MRI "with contrast" would show whether lesions are "old or new". The regular MRI -- as your doctor noted -- won't make that distinction. The contrast dye isn't necessary to see the lesions, obviously -- your doctor saw them, and showed them to you.

Lesions that are indicative of MS are located in pretty specific areas of the brain. If you had the report in front of you, it might indicate precisely where they're located, and that would tell you for certain whether they're indicative of MS, or of some other disease process.

Getting the other tests done will lead you closer to a diagnoses. I'm sorry you have to worry and wait!
Posted 10/13/2006 5:06 PM (GMT 0)

 

I have had MS for 2 1/2 yrs.  One year prior to my inital exacerbation (episode), I also had numbness in my fingertips that lasted for at least 6 weeks.  It was annoying because I was in a typing class for my associates degree and instead of typing 55wpm I could only manage 25 wpm.  Finally that went away and i didn't give a second thought until I actually was in the hospital getting looked over when I experienced facial dropping and weakness in my right arm and leg.

I had six leasions on my inital MRI.  The Neuro's theorized that I may well have had MS for 10 yrs already with that amount of leisions. 

I also have "Silent Leisions" on my MRI, dormant lurking in the brain until they are ready to attack.  Dang evil monsters!  I have a bunch of those now and I am not looking forward to them waking up.  Hopefully they won't ever.

I'm not a doctor either but only going by what I've been told.  Sounds like MS to me too.

They need to do an MRI and spinal tap/lumbar puncture to I believe measure the amount/percentage of proteins in the spinal fluid is an apparent indicator of MS as well as the white leisions.  Also, the brighter more white leisions are the most current or recently activated leisions.  Again only what I've been told by a Neuro.  Dr. Corey Ford, MS Specialist of UNM.

If you haven't got an Lumbar puncture yet.  Whenever you do, it really doesn't hurt.  However, Do Not get up off the bed right away.  Lay flat for at least an hour if that. Even so, you may still experience the horrendous Spinal Headaches.  Migranes X 100!!  Take Vicodin or Darvocet for the pain.  I laid down for about 50 minutes because I was told the same and I still got the headaches.  Just letting you know.

Posted 12/20/2009 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've had numbness on and off for years in my arm and for the past few months, say since Spring, I ahve been very light sensitive, sound sensitive, had migraines (had one the entire month of November), the muscles under my eyes across my cheeks have tightened and hurt like a big dog, my eyes have been hurting and feel strained a lot. PCP finally sent me in for an MRI and bloodwork. Bloodwork showed that I didn't have Lymes and that there was no inflamation. MRI showed 5 white patchy lesions in my brain, the largest in my left frontal lobe. I now have an appt with a Neurologist January 5 - I refused to wait until February! I am an artist and all this mess is really causing havic in that area! I'm hoping to know something soon!
Posted 12/21/2009 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, a spinal tap will help confirm and MRI as if MS is there, abnormalities will be found in the fluid. Any cloudy vision or blurriness?
Posted 12/27/2009 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Confused,

As uppitycats mentioned, the lesions associated with MS are usually found in only certain places in the brain. You were asking about other illnesses that can cause brain lesions; you obviously already know about Lyme disease, but most people don't realize that celiac disease can cause brain lesions too. You might be interested in the following article:

http://www.celiac.com/articles/112/1/Brain-White-Matter-Lesions-are-Common-in-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

As to the fact that you are of Indian descent, there is definitely celiac disease in India, especially in Northern India:

http://celiacdiseaseindia.com/

I do hope that you find out soon what the problem is!
JoAnn
Posted 12/27/2009 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Confused,

I know how scared you are. I was there almost a year ago now. They initially thought I had MS, but I was later diagnosed with ADEM, then later with brainstem encephalitis.  I know ADEM causes multiple lesions scattered all over the brain.  ADEM is an autoimmune response to a virus or vaccine.  If you were sick that you can remember prior to getting the numbness, let the doctor know. A lot of people never know what triggered the ADEM though. However, it is a one time thing. Try not to worry (I know that's nearly impossible) until you get other test results back. Lesions do not always mean MS, or even a terrible illness. I got brainstem encephalitis a year ago, and I am totally fine now. There are tons of possibilities, so leave it up to the neurologist to sort it out. Good luck and God bless!!

 

Posted 12/29/2009 7:17 AM (GMT 0)
Just a heads up, you might want to check the dates on old posts.  This one by Confusedgal is over three years old.  The original poster may not return your post.  According to her profile, she was last here over two years ago.
Posted 1/15/2010 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
I am 37 years old. I found out I had white lesions on Brain MRI about 5 years ago. They did 5 lumbar test for MS all came back negitive with only slightly elevated numbers that might suggest MS (but not enough to say that was what I have). I have been to MAYO clinic (Arizona) many different doctors and none of them know what it is. My symptoms started and still are stabbing headaches golf ball pressure behind my eyeballs (in the center) numbness in my feet to my knees and on and off numbness in my figures and face. It is very scary at times. My short term memory is horrible, my overall personality has changed, I almost fell a disconnect has happened. My ablity to speak is fine but I am unable to get the words to come out even though I know what I want to say. This is very fustrating. I am on SSD for what has been labeled Central Nervous System Vasculitis (even though no test is confirming this). I have just had another MRI with and with out contrast (new lesion showed up on left side) new doctors looking at all of my brain scans they are leaning back to MS...... but my headaches are the most disabling part of all of this for me and that is not a normal symptom with MS..... I mean my head feels like a little man is in there just stabbing me with a ice pick all the time.

The good news is I dont have an experation date so I can do the best to live my life, love my family and keep hoping for the best.

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