The rule of thumb is the damage is lower than the lesions so the lesions could be in the brain causing you leg problems. If you only had spine lesions and had double vision that would not work. Most damage in MS is gray matter. MRIs only see white matter damage. I do not know if you have MS but this Neurologist does not make sense. He may know other things from your history and all that rules MS out. He might just be bad at explaining it. I would go to a MS Specialist to be sure.
Alex
I can give you an example of a brain lesion that can cause arm and leg issues, so your neuro is not correct. There is a region in your brain called the internal capsule -- it's an area where small strokes tend to happen, which are called lacunar strokes. It is NOT considered to be an ms area. A lot of important motor and sensory nerves pass through this area.
A lesion in the posterior limbo of the internal capsule can cause arm and leg weakness on the opposite side of the body. I have a left side lesion and right side weakness.
However -- this would affect both your arm and leg, so not saying a lesion here is the cause of your issues, just that absolutely brain lesions can cause motor function difficulties.
I don't know whether or not you have MS, but I can say for sure that that neuro was wrong. Yes, lesions and disability correlate, in that lesions cause symptoms. The problem, though, is that it is not possible to actually map lesions and symptoms. I have had MS for many years and have a lot of brain lesions, but only brain lesions. I also have definite problems with my right leg, and have had almost from the start. MS specialists will tell you that the brain can cause practically any MS symptom. The fact that your brain has lesions on both sides means nothing--the lesions will not be identical from side to side. So the take away is see an MS specialist. That guy sure is not one.
Hi there, that neuro is full of it with respect to bilateral brain lesions not found in MS. They can be unilateral or bilateral.
With respect to leg issues and spinal lesions, I am not the best person to answer that. I have leg issues with no cervical spine lesions and my previous neuro did not think it necessary to do a thoracic spine MRI. I know spinal cord lesions are much harder to detect than brain lesions and just because you don't see them doesn't mean they don't exist.
Are you scheduled for another neurology appointment in your own city anytime soon? Has that neurologist given you a diagnosis of MS or are you still in a testing phase to see what is causing your brain lesions?
Hang in there,
Corrie