Finally had an MRI but WITHOUT contrast

[mrsjitters]

Can an MRI without contrast diagnose MS just as good as one with contrast? I had like a billion symptoms before my pregnancy so there should be some very visible lesions, right? Oh god, I wish I could just cure this thing!

Forgot to add, I'm still waiting for my results!

[jimmylegs]

i'm surprised they did one without contrast at the dx stage of things. but i'm no mri tech so who am i to say..

may i ask, what were your symptoms before pregnancy?

[mrsjitters]

i'm surprised they did one without contrast at the dx stage of things. but i'm no mri tech so who am i to say..

may i ask, what were your symptoms before pregnancy?

Hmm where to start.. complete loss of sensation from my waist up(it came & went), white spots in vision, sensitivity to light, dizziness,shaking hands, shaking legs when walking down the stairs, burning sensation on right leg and foot,weak bladder muscles, foggy mind. I'm sure there were more but I just can't remember right now. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm told I have MS. If they say nothings wrong with me I'd only be frustrated. Most of these symptoms went away when I got pregnant. The ones that didn't just eased up.

[NHE]

Can an MRI without contrast diagnose MS just as good as one with contrast? I had like a billion symptoms before my pregnancy so there should be some very visible lesions, right?

The MRI without contrast will still show the presence of lesions. The contrast agent shows active lesions, i.e., those where there is active inflammation where the white cells are crossing the blood brain barrier and making it leaky to the contrast agent.

NHE

[kirsty23]

What does without contrast mean??

[jimmylegs]

with contrast is 'gadolinium enhanced' - they inject you with gd and it helps them see things better. without contrast is without gadolinium.

[kirsty23]

I've had two MRI scans, I wasn't injected for either and I've been diagnosed wiv ms