Could I have MS?

[Corey93]

I had an MRI done in 2013 (see below). I have severe migraines, fatigue, numbness and tingling in arms and hands, urgent urination, severe anxiety, dizziness/vertigo, fatigue, mobility and walking issues at times
numbness, pain, sleep issues, tremor, visual problms, weakness in arm/hand/feet...


MRI; PROCEDURE: MRI OF THE BRAIN
TECHNIQUE: A 1.5T MRI scan of the brain was obtained utilizing
T1-weighted, T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR),
and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences in an axial plane. The
study also included sagittal FLAIR and coronal thin-slice T2-weighted
sequences.
The study is of good quality.
COMPARISON: None.
INDICATIONS: 19-year-old male with persistent headaches.
FINDINGS:
A few punctate T2/FLAIR hyperintensities are seen in the subcortical
white matter of both cerebral hemispheres. These lesions are very
small, and are not appreciated on the T1-weighted images.
Cerebral cortical sulci and fissures are normal. CSF cisterns are
unremarkable. A small arachnoid cyst is seen posterior and inferior to
the right cerebellar hemisphere. Ventricles are normal in size and
morphology, without any shift, distortion, or asymmetry.
The corpus callosum is of normal size and signal intensity. The
pituitary gland is normal. No suprasellar or parasellar abnormalities
are seen. The upper cervical cord is visualized up to the C5 level,
and is without any abnormal signal changes. Straightening of the
normal cervical lordotic curvature is seen. No abnormalities are noted
at the craniocervical junction.
Normal flow voids are noted in the vertebrobasilar and bilateral
internal carotid arterial systems. Superior sagittal sinus is patent.
No foci of diffusion restriction are seen on the DWI sequence.
Calvarium and orbits are normal. Paranasal sinuses are unremarkable.
Nasal septal deviation is noted.
CONCLUSION: Abnormal MRI of the brain without contrast due to the
following:
1. A few punctate subcortical white matter lesions in both cerebral
hemispheres, which are nonspecific in etiology. Similar lesions are
sometimes seen in migraine and following head trauma. Clinical
correlation is recommended.
2. Straightening of normal cervical lordotic curvature, which could
represent paraspinal muscle spasm.
3. Incidental finding of a small arachnoid cyst posterior and inferior
to the right cerebellar hemisphere.

[JaneyLee13]

Hi, i am just going through the process of being diagnosed with MS, i have a few symptoms.. tingling/itching/stabbing pains, all located on the left side of my face/neck. My MRI showed only a few small lesions in my brain and to be honest i don't really understand the rest of the report. I'm also having some visual problems. My advice would be to see your doctor, probably get another mri and then if your mri warrants it get onto a good neurologist. All this stuff is pretty scary and your brain can change a lot over 2 years. Hope your ok and your getting better soon.

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

From my understanding of MS, you have far too many symptoms with your brain MRI results of 2 years ago, not actually suggestive of the causation being due to any typical cosponsoring lesion locations, or indicating a neurological condition like MS might be possible.  

You list:
"severe migraines, fatigue, numbness and tingling in arms and hands, urgent urination, severe anxiety, dizziness/vertigo, fatigue, mobility and walking issues at times numbness, pain, sleep issues, tremor, visual problms, weakness in arm/hand/feet..."  

For a neurological condition like MS to be a possibility, you are expected to have some abnormal clinical findings discovered during your neurological exam(s) but if you have normal clinical findings, no test evidence suggestive or consistent with a neurological causation etc  

eg symptom "urgent urination" = diagnosed neurogenic bladder, symptom "visual problms" = diagnosed Optic neuritis, symptom "mobility and walking issues" = diagnosed foot drop and clonus etc etc

It becomes 'extremely unlikely' for your symptoms to have been caused by a neurological condition and much more likely, to have been caused by something else entirely......and if that is the case i would suggest you discuss with your doctor what else could be the cause etc

Cheers.........JJ

[immisceo]

Have you been examined by a neurologist? The only really important part of an MRI report for the layman is the conclusion or findings section. As the three things they mention are not diagnostic homeruns, "clinical correlation" is recommended, as in the MRI findings are pretty non-specific without a physical exam to compare them to.