Spot on MRI?

[SamuelS]

I have had some off and on neurological symptoms for the past few months, including numbness/tingling, twitching, and body aches. The neurologist suspected I had some sort of virus, prescribed me Tamiflu and sent me in for an MRI. Anyway, I went in for a second appointment a couple weeks ago. He asked if I was doing better, and I told him yes, but I am still having some symptoms (mostly body aches). He told me that the MRI showed that there was a spot on my brain, but his instinct tells him it's nothing. He said since I was feeling better that was a good sign, and to come back in for another MRI in six months. However, I don't really feel like he was listening to me when I told him I was still having some symptoms. Even right now, my legs are still tingling, my whole body aches, bloody, dried mucous is clogging up my nose. Is it possible to have a benign spot on my brain? If this is a virus, how do I get it to go away?  

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
Yes it is possible to have benign spots in the brain. They are usually seen in old age, smokers, diabetics, hypertensives, alcoholics, and people who suffer from chronic headaces.
It is important to however to follow up after 6 months. Viral infection of the brain usually presents as an acute condition with high fever and headaches, vomiting and stiffness in the neck. Dried nose can cause the mucus to become bloody. Make sure your nose is well hydrated. Use saline nose drops couple of times in day.
Take care!

[myooshka]

From my experience dr's say virus when they don't know what it is. If it was a virus in your nervous system it would be of course very serious. From what I have read you can have benign spots on your brain, but if you are having neurological symptoms I can't imagine why they would dismiss this. You have to realize a big part of medicine is the opinion of the Dr. If you are not comfortable with this answer get a 2nd, 3rd, opinion. I have learned you have to be your own advocate.

[SamuelS]

If someone could just answer these 2 questions that would be great. I could use the peace of mind.

1) Is it possible to have a benign spot on my brain?
2) If this is a virus, is there anything I can to to get it to go away?  

[SamuelS]

Just to clarify, the dried snot is from my nose, not my throat/lungs. I thought I remembered reading one time that that is a possible sign of a viral infection.