This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

So I had posted here before about Tremors in my fingers, (i still have it...doctor thinks it's anxiety/sleep related) I have poor posture and back problems (Certain positions sleeping ill go numb in my arms but upon rising up will go away).

But anyways had my MRI today w and w/o contrast. Blood Tests and MRI came back completely fine. I know People with MS can have "Normal" MRI's......but if it was during a flare then lesions "should" show up right? or at least show Some scar tissue?

He said my Brain looked 100% normal. I guess chances are pretty low that lesions wouldn't show up even when Im having issues (have been for like 4 weeks....but he's probably right, I don't get much sleep which seems to make the tremors worse). Hate to post here just with my worries, but I finally just want to relax about it.

Without lesions you cannot have MS. MS = Multiple Sclerosis = Multiple Lesions.

Did they scan just the brain or the spine also? You may have lesions in your C-spine/T-spine.

Just brain, but they only basically did it just for my worries. They didn't seem to think it was MS in the beginning.
since my only symptoms were Finger Tremors (only in certain positions) and Sore legs (but I have trouble sleeping, and probably have restless leg syndrome).

Otherwise.....no weakness or anything, I only get numbness when im laying on my back (I sit alot at work, so probably alot of pinched nerves, and it's usually an arm will go to sleep or something...but regains feeling instantly upon sitting up. Only sometimes tho.). My blood work done was 100% perfect.

I don't have lhermittes sign either. So I think im probably ok. Plus.....seems like if you had Lesions in the spine you would probably also have them in the brain usually as well. Although I guess they have some images of my spine......just no side view (Like the MRI images go through the top down view of my spine.)

edit: From what i've looked up online you can have JUST Spinal lesions and no brain lesions, but it's pretty rare to have ZERO lesions in brain and have them on spine. Especially considering I have no parathesia (sp) or leg numbness. (Just sore legs, but I don't have muscle spasms).


Keep in mind this soreness of my legs has been going on for MONTHS and months (like 5-6), I have a really crappy bed so im sure that doesn't help.....but it's probably related to my job: Sitting for 8-9 hours a day. The Tremor was recent (past 4 weeks), and I know Tremors are in your cerebullum (sp) so Im sure there would be a lesion there if I was having them due to MS i'd guess?

All the sx you describe can be caused by many things other than MS. Have you been to any kind of spine specialist? It is very common for posture and/or musculoskeletal issues (herniated disc, stenosis, etc.) to cause your sx.

I had 'mechanical' spine problems (herniated disc, cyst in spinal canal) at about the same time as the onset of my MS sx (mainly paresthesia, some spasticity), and it was my back doctor who figured out there were multiple things going on at the same time. I think a big part of that is because he is a physiatrist, and I'll bet seeing one yourself would be useful. This site explains what physiatrists are all about: http://www.aapmr.org/patients/aboutpmr/ ... trist.aspx

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RRMS dx 3/3/11; Copaxone since 12/1/11

Yeah thats probably a good idea Mark!. What does your Spasticity feel like? or were you saying those were your MS symptoms and not Spinal Symptoms.

They are now finding that grey matter lesions may be present in early stage MS but that kind of scan is rarely done. Just adds one more possibility to an already confusion situation for MS patients.

Well my Neuro never thought it was MS.....since I don't really have any "weakness" or numbness. Just the tremors, which I know are due to lesions on the cerebellum (which would've shown on the brain scan).

The only thing I have is soreness. but having the MRI still helped relieve a bit of worry.

Spasticity is definitely an MS symptom for me -- random muscles get 'stuck' in interesting ways (other people experience it differently).

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RRMS dx 3/3/11; Copaxone since 12/1/11

Ah I assume thats a bit more painful than just mild soreness?

The pain level depends on which muscle gets stuck, and how. Some are like the worst cramp you've ever had and some just lock me into a certain position until I use one of my other limbs to 'free' it. FWIW, I don't think my experience of spasticity is typical...

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RRMS dx 3/3/11; Copaxone since 12/1/11