MRI of spine after negative LP...

[Twinsmom06]

I'm the one who was worried my neuro would drop me after a negative LP. Well...good news...he didn't! As I had said, I have many (dozens) of lesions on my brain (shown on T 1.5 MRI) and many of them are pretty large. Doc says he has ruled out just about everything else that can mimic MS but becuase I'm not having many symptoms he wants a spinal MRI done. He thinks that I may be one of the few that fall into the "Positive MS, Negative LP" family. I'm so happy to have a good doc who is on the same page and is going to fight to help me find an answer! I have seen many horror stories from these types of support groups and I couldn't help to have a little fear...but I am happy and blessed to say I found a good one...right from the start!

Back to my question...has anyone ever had a negative LP, a negative spinal MRI but a positive brain MRI and actually gotten a diagnosis? I'm guessing if so, there was a waiting period for DIT...but I'm just guessing.

Anyhoo...I go for an MRI this Tuesday and then again Saturday (darn insurance won't pay for two areas in the same day).  Oh, and I am getting another round of blood work just to double check everything and test for some very rare stuff. Wish me luck:)

[maxthecat9196]

Me too.  Negative LP.  But I still got diagnosed with MS.  I'm glad you have such a good doctor.  Best of luck to you.

Tammy

[anon07072023]

I had a negative LP and I have a definitive diagnosis of MS - with lesions in my spine & brain.  When I had switched to a new neuro, he saw that I had a negative LP and suggested that perhaps he'd like to do another one to see if it's now positive. I asked him if it would make a difference one way or the other in my diagnosis, and he told me, "No."

After he said that, then, I told him I didn't want another one...

:-)
Good luck,
Kelly

[twopack]

I have brain lesions that are not cosidered to be "classic" of MS.

I have no visible cervical or thoracic lesions on a 3 tesla MRI.  I have symptoms that are clear indicators spinal lesions exists.

My LP was negative.

I have a long history of MS type symptoms that have become progressively more debilitating but have never completely incapacitated me.

I am diagnosed with MS.

As for the statement you may be "of the few that fall into the 'Positive MS, Negative LP' family", it is my personal opinion there are likely branches full of relatives on that family tree.  If doctors refuse to diagnose without a positive LP then the number of people diagnosed with MS that have positive LPs will remain (falsely) high.  It self perpetuates.

Besides, even if there are as few as half a million people with MS and 95% are expected to have positive LPs that still means 25,000 will have negative results.  That is not a small number.  At least not to me.....

Congratulations on finding a doc with the courage to see and hear his patients and then offer a clinical diagnosis based on his exam.  He's a keeper for sure!

Mary

[gypcwmn]

I have brain lesions & spinal lesions, i also have spinal stenosis my LP was negative and i have a diagnosis of MS

[Lulu54]

hi again, this is indeed good news that this doctor continues to want to see you and work through the diagnosis.  It may take a while but it sounds like this is adoctor who won't give up on searching until there are positive answers.

I will wish you luck, even though I know you don't want to have MS, you definitely want to know what is physcially wrong.
be well,
Lulu