This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I did have an MRI this week, without contrast, and it did not show any lesions. My questions/fear surround whether this is sufficiently accurate to rule out MS. My history and currently symptoms are described below.

Before and now, I had bad tingling on both feet, though believe that the tingling now is worse than it was 14 months ago when I first noticed it, in addition to it now progressing up my calves on both legs. I believe this has been going on for about a month, and getting worse recently. I do not remember when this tingling went away the last time I had it, and I believe I've had it intermittetly since, but because it felt different a month ago and is still with me, I believe that means it's different than it was 4 months ago, but I don't accurately remember what I felt then re: tingling.

It is constant on my feet, and there about 80-90% of the time on my calves. I also have tingling on my right arm maybe 10-15% of the time, and tingling on my face and tongue maybe 25-40% of the time.

Within the last 2 weeks, I also have nausea, sometimes pretty bad, along with this strange sensation that the ground, when I walk, is uneven or even moving slightly, when it's not.

Then today while walking to work, I suddenly veered left and almost fell over, for no apparent reason. Standing for the rest of the day felt difficult, not because of weakness, i can't describe precisely why it did, but it did.

It may be nerves causing my symptoms. I do not doubt that as a possible cause, and realize that nerves/anxiety can cause many symptoms affiliated with MS. But for some reason, I believe that at least some of these symptoms are not anxiety related, specifically me veering to the left this morning and almost falling over.

In people's experience here, how accurate are MRIs for the symptoms I have described? and furthermore, how often does MS only show on the spine? as my MRI was of my brain, so, since lesions can show on the spine, how frequently do they only show on the spine? I'm going to ask my doctor if I can get a spine MRI because of what happened this morning, and is it worth it for me to ask my doctor for an MRI with contrast as well?

That I had similar symptoms a year ago re: tingling gives me hope that I do not have MS, but its recurrence and my other symptoms give me pause that I may very well have it and the MRI did not show any lesions, for whatever reason.

Before all this, I had concerns over a muscle disease in '07-'08, as I showed abnormal readings on a test. I also had a headache condition for about 15 months, starting in '06 through '07, and because of that, and a pineal cyst that the MRI found, I have had 3 previous MRIs to this most recent one. None have shown any lesions. But I did not necessarily have any MS symptoms for the first 2 MRIs, as those were for my headaches. So, for my MS fears, I have had 2 MRIs within 15 months, both clean, but the symptoms have currently returned and are worse in some ways, and I'm very afraid.

Thank you for reading this and help/insight that this forum can provide.

Hi Granta,

I am sorry about your health problems. MS symptoms can be similar to symptoms of various other health conditions. It is frustrating trying to sort it all out. My MS was diagnosed using a MRI, Spinal Tap and Blood Tests. I did have lesions on my spine and brain. My Spinal Tap also had positive results for MS. Try not to worry too much about things, I know that is easier said than done. You should make a list of all of your medical questions to ask your doctor the next time you visit with them. I wish you the best of luck!

Alicia

Dont forget to check out Lyme, bartonella, Babesia, CPN and Mycoplasma Pn. Since the tests are inaccurate, it may be beneficial to try a month of antibiotics. Often its the reaction to the antibiotics that will provide the best diagnosis. Bartonella is known to infect the calves and shins among other organs.

I agree with Alicia,Granta. There are many things that could be causing your symptoms that range from MS to a Vitamin deficiency so I hope you are getting a thorough workup. Although there are some of us on here who had negative MRI's at the beginning of the disease, I think it would be rare to have MS and continue to have negative MRIs. Were the MRI's performed with and without contrast? Please keep posted!

Hi Granta,

I have lesions only on the cervical spine.
I think you have to do MRI of the spine but w/contrast .