WHITE SPOT ON BRAIN MRI

[WHERYAT1]

I had a brain MRI done and they found a lesion on my brain.  I have seen a neurologist and had a spinal tap done.  The neurologist said all levels were normal and we also did a CTA scan of the brain and he said that was normal.  I have not had any symptoms of MS and now I am left wondering WTF is this spot and what could have caused it?....The neurologist said if I develop any symptoms we can look at it again or maybe I should do another spinal tap done in a year.  I DONT WANT ANOTHER SPINAL TAP DONE.....that was one of the most uncomfortable tests I have ever had to experience in my life and will have to have A LOT of MS symptoms before I allow it again....

But just waiting to see if anything else HAPPENS does not seem to be a very smart approach to me....any insight would be nice....thanks

[jensequitur]

I talked to my neuro about it, and he prescribed Baclofen, which is a muscle relaxer that works on the spine.  If you're having problems with spasms, and the regular muscle relaxers aren't cutting it, you might be better off with Baclofen.  Definitely talk to your doc!

[WHERYAT1]

what do you do to get rid of the pain caused by your spasms?  Mine seems never ending

[jensequitur]

Lesions will cause problems, no matter what they're from.  However, a radiologist is quite good at telling you what the lesion indicates, depending upon its position in the brain.  If the radiologist thinks it's an indication of demyelinating disease, then that needs to be looked at.

Many people with MS have negative spinal taps.  If yours was negative, it would just be cruel to put you through it again.  There are lots of other tests that will provide important information that don't involve jamming a needle in your spine.  Talk to your neuro about a VEP (visual evoked potential) or SEP (somatosensory evoked potential.)  

I would also get an MRI of the cervical spine.  (If you haven't already.)  Make sure it's 3T - the spine is hard to image.  While you're at it, get one of the thoracic spine.  

I get frequent spasms of the muscles to the right of the spine, right around the right shoulder blade.  I have several small lesions in the upper thoracic cord.

[WHERYAT1]

thank you for your response and I tried to post a reply yesterday but was too busy at work and got timed out before I finished.  Hopefully that will not happen today.

I was going to a dr for chronic neck pain and she chnged the dosage of my medication which I think caused some pain behind my eyes but to be sure she ordered a brain MRI.  This is how the white spots were found.  they range from 7-11 mm in size.  she sent me to a neurologists who ordered the CTA scan and the spinal tap.  The CTA scan came back as normal and the spinal tap also had normal results.  

I have had at least 3 concussions in my life but all occurred on the right side of my head.  This lesion is on the left half of the brain a little closer to the front than the rear.

I refuse to read all the symptoms of different diseases or ailments as some can always be applied to myself.  Such as numbness in the fingers happens sometimes but not very often.  I always believed everything i feel has been stemming from the three discs i have that are bulged i believe was the terminalogy used.  they are causing stenosis and triggering muscle spasms which is causing me alot of pain and nothing works but pain killers and muscle relaxers.  I cannot tolerate even the weakest of the muscle relaxers as the knock me out so i only use them on the weekends when I do not have to try to get up and go to work.  The pain killers are becoming less effective which is normal and I have had different injections and none have given any long lasting results.  

your comment that this could be from an accident does put me more at ease as I was worried that something else may have been going on.  I just want to know should i be retested or have another CT scan or MRI done sometime in the future to see if it has gotten any worse and when should that be done?

also if there any suggestions to getting rid of this pain that would be nice...it hurts just to type this....putting my arms out even while resting on the desk causes behind the left shoulder blade to start having a sharp aching and the whole arm will start to hurt as well as all the way up the neck to the base of my skull....

thanks and hoping to hear back from you and anyone else who may have some wisdom to share

[Erin0313]

  Hi! I am sorry that you are going through this scary and frustrating experience.

  Many things other than MS can cause a lesion even a big trama to the head like a car accident etc.. Maybe you could tell us what symptoms that you were having and seeing the neurologist for that prompted an MRI and a spinal tap to be done.

Also if you know where in the brain the lesion is and if they mentioned a size would probably be helpful for some of our very knowledgable members to better comment on the lesion for you.

I agree that the spinal tap is awful expecially if you have to get poked several times for them to get in there.Hopefully you won't have to go that route.

Looking forward to hearing more of the story. Take care

Erin :)