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Avatar universal

Can you have a clear MRI and still have MS?

My son has had symptoms similar to MS for about two years (numbness in both legs, eye tics, sharp pain in legs, difficulty walking). He had a clear MRI and very little if any weakness so they they have ruled out MS, though we live in an area where there is a high prevalence of people developing MS. The doctors decided that his inability to walk was "just one of those things" (though it has happened twice) and "there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to walk so he should stand up straight and walk." He was slumped over because he had trouble balancing himself. He was also chided for not placing his feet flat on the floor. His feet were numb so he couldn't feel the floor nor what position his feet were in. Is it possible to have MS without lesions showing up on an MRI? They also said his blood tests were normal but didn't say what tests they did.


This discussion is related to Have MS like symptoms but MRI showed no barin lesions.
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Avatar universal
After being mis-diagnosed for 12 years with MS. and me thinking all my symptoms what i lived with were due to MS.

I would just like to say if you have symptoms of MS you need a full neurological evaluation being MRI, with a lumbar puncture, i have known people with MS to have a normal MRI scan, but the spinal fluid has shown the O-Bands.

I would also like to mention, that since my mis-diagnosis for MS, i was brushed off with medically unexplained syndrome, which i wasnt so happy with.
I have since been diagnosed with APS, which is better known as Anti-phospolipid Syndrome, or Hughes Syndrome in the UK.
This is an horrible illness, which resembles MS, and can cause allsorts off problems along the way, it can be found in teenagers, and can produce some really bad headaches being a major symptom, along with paralysis, fatigue , pins and needles, balance , speech, etc the list is endless.
This is an auto -immune blood disorder, and can be found by a simple bloodtest, i would advice you to ask for the two simple blood tests to be done which are the anticardiolipin antibodies, and also the lupus anticoagulant, blood test.
This makes the blood sticky often producing blood clots, but can also interfere with almost anywhere, the brain being the most sensitive.

By having the two simple blood tests, maybe you might find your answer, especially if you brain MRI was clear, but then the neuro should of also done a lumbar puncture, to check the CSF, which you havent mentioned.

I hope this has helped you , and maybe you could ask for the test to be done, which is a very cheap test to do, but iff positive then could be treated, to stop a lot off misery along the way.
I hope you all find some answers soon for your troubles, and i hope they find the cause for these devastating symptoms you are suffering.
I know because i have suffered them along the way, but now know mine arent caused by MS, but more by APS.

Good luck, to you all.
Nicola
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Avatar universal
Now that I am learning more about MS, I am noticing symptoms that my son has had off and on are the same as MS symptoms. I took him to the doctor after each symptom and was generally given the brush-off. When my son complained of painful legs, the doctor said he was probably sitting in a position that caused the pain. When he complained of back pain so bad he didn't want to get out of bed, the doctor said he probably slept in a position that caused the pain. When he complained of bad headaches so bad that he was in pain for two or three days and OTC meds didn't help, the doctor said he was probably under stress at school, even though my son said school was fine. I hope that the doctors will discover whatever it is, whether it is MS or something else.
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Avatar universal
My son is 12 years old. I wonder if the doctors ever considered Lyme's Disease. Thanks for the suggestion.  
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1453990 tn?1329231426
I didn't see where you mentioned your son's  age.  There is a relatively newly identified syndrome that should be considered in pediatric patients that present with strange neurological signs, especially if the signs start after the child is treated for Group A Beta Hemolytic Strep  (Strep Throat.)  It is referred to as PANDAS (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus.)  It is an autoimmune condition.  It normally presents as tics and OCD like symptoms, but I would suspect that PANDAS could mimic other Neurologic Autoimmune Diseases.  Another consideration would be Lyme's Disease.  Both of these conditions can be detected with blood tests.

Bob  
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572651 tn?1530999357
I would invite both of you to visit this health page on the MS forum that answers this question in detail.  Perhaps it will be of help.  - be well, Lulu



http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/How-Can-a-Person-with-MS-Have-a-Negative-MRI/show/161?cid=36
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Avatar universal
Hello.  I have experienced almost the same thing as your son.  Early this year I had a clear MRI that ruled out MS and also had a clear EMG to rule out ALS.  My symptoms in the past have come and gone, but now in the past two weeks I have experienced EXTREME fatigue and my muscles (from head to toe) feel like I am straining them.  I am able to walk, but I feel wobbly.  I am also able to sit up without slumping, but I am so very tired.  I must admit that I do not sleep a full night through.  Last night I went to bed at 10:30pm and woke up at 3:00am.  My legs were tingling, I had lower back pain, my joints were achey, and the left side of my face was tingling as well.  Some days it is my arms that are affected.  Other days it is my calves.  The next day my thighs are affected.  It seems to move around.  At night it feels like there is an electrical current running through my legs.  I have been to several doctors who seem to want to treat my symptoms with meds, but I haven't taken any of them (Gabapentin, a muscle relaxer, Xanax).  The latest drug was Clonazepam for anxiety.  I was wondering if I could have had the MRI and EMG too early or something?  I have been to 2 Neurologists with no answers.  I have had blood tests as well and both came back normal.  I still have strength, but my muscles feel fatigued.
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