Question about MRI

[jsb0410]

Hi to you all

I’m very confused about my MRI results from last week.

I had an MRI last September and then had a suspected relapse in December.

I was pretty ill and had weakness and pain in one of my arms. My neuro, an MS specialist, gave me a 5 day course of Solumedrol (which gave me some cardiac issues) without doing an MRI

I just switched neurologists to a nearby major University. I had an MRI last week and apparently there were no changes from my MRI prior to the “relapse.”

I don’t know if this means that I never had a relapse?

Also I have had new symptoms (balance issues) appear in the past 4 months.

Is it possible to have new symptoms without MRI changes?

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated

Thanks!

[Jazzihorsecat]

jbs, no changes? Wow! & new symptoms, hmmm, time to get Ann Boroch's Books, "Healing Multiple Sclerosis", & "The Candida Cure", those 2 books or ebooks are Great Life changers for the overall Better! Since being on this diet & Candida fungal overgrowth Treatment, I have been more stable, more regular, & no more pains or balance issues! When we heal our leaky-guts! We heal everyrhing!👍💗😀

You may even thank me L8R! Blessings,🌺Jazzy🌹💜

[jsb0410 in reply to Jazzihorsecat]

Hi Jazzy, thank you so much for responding and for your kind words! I just purchased the book I hope that it helps! I’m encouraged to hear that it is helping you so much!

The new neurologist had some good ideas of meds and physical therapy.

So hopefully the combination of everything will help. Thanks again and best wishes

[Hidden]

From the little I know, I believe it is possible to have new symptoms with no MRI changes. Just like it is possible to have plaques show in areas but no corresponding symptoms. That is my understanding, and experience.

[jsb0410 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your help! I thought that I had read this as well. I was expecting there to be visual disease progression as the last six months or so have been challenging health wise. Thank you so much!

[Kenu]

Thru the years I have had several relapse’s and my MRI’s stayed the same. As far as I know and have read it is not uncommon to have relapses with no new lesions. Good Luck and hope you’re be neurologist works out for you 👍🙏😉 Ken 🐾🐾

[jsb0410 in reply to Kenu]

Hi thank you so much for your response it is greatly appreciated! I am hopeful the new neurologist works out! Thanks again and have a great day😊

[Frances_B]

I can't post a link to relevant articles right now but I seem to recall that relapse activity only shows up on MRI for a period of a few weeks, and if you get fairly good healing of the active lesions then an MRI months later will not necessarily show any changes. And yes, you can get some symptoms without new lesions showing up on MRI - some of this is dependent on the location of the inflammatory activity and the slice thickness of the scan images. This is a very long article on MRIs, but well worth bookmarking and reading through and digesting it as it really does explain MRIs very well in language that ordinary people can understand.

multiple-sclerosis-research...

[jsb0410 in reply to Frances_B]

Hi thank you so much for the information and the article! It can be confusing and I’m still waiting on the radiologist’s report I’m hopeful there will be a little more information.

I’m glad that there is explanation for these new symptoms.

I really appreciate all of your help!

[rjoneslaw]

YES I can tell you from experience.

I just had my MRI done on June 27 there were no charges, but in January I had an exacerbation and a relapse, I also had new symptoms.

This is why my neurologist switched me to Ocrevus. My 1st half was June 24 n the 2nd half was July 9. I’ll post my experience with ocrevus after I do my bloodwork for for my B cell

Before I could start the new med I had to do what is called “a wash out” which I had to be off the MS med I was on which was Tecfidera. A wash out is when you stop taking one med and let it leave your body so you can start another med. During the wash out I didn’t really have any game changing symptoms but I could tell the med was leaving my system. I was tired, I would have brain fog, I was a little weak, and my blood pressure was high.

[jsb0410 in reply to rjoneslaw]

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences! It is helpful to hear what others have gone though. I was concerned as the relapse I had in December was difficult to go through and I’m still dealing with the new symptoms that presented.

My neurologist switched me to Ocrevus as well as I had issues with Aubagio. I had the first half dose in February. I just had my lymphocytes tested and the medicine is working 0% on two types of B cells.

The wash out you experienced sounds difficult and I am glad you are through it

I hope you feel well and best wishes

[leking1]

Yes, to your question! My symptoms change all the time, but my MRI results rarely do.

[jsb0410 in reply to leking1]

Hi thank you very much for sharing! I appreciate your response and help have a great day!

[leking1]

Each of us is different, but I do hope you get better soon! Have a wonderful day!

[sashaming1]

MRIs of the brain don't see everything - or anything at all in the brain's white (grey?) matter. So unseen brain changes are possible which may have caused you trouble. Was it a brain MRI or spine MRI? I hear that the two locations can be MRIed. I've only had the brain ones.

[jsb0410 in reply to sashaming1]

Hi thank you so much for your help! It was an MRI of the brain and thoracic spine (the spine was normal) I do feel that there is unseen damage as I never had balance issues until after the December relapse. Thank you so much for your response and have a great day!

[RoyceNewton]

Yes it most certainly is. What type of MRI did you have. Cranial(Head) or spinal (Spine bacK) How many Tesla was your MRI. There is a lot that MRI does not pick up so yes there can be symptoms that mrs does not see

[jsb0410 in reply to RoyceNewton]

Hi thank you so much for answering! This time I had a brain and thoracic spine mri

The spine was normal. I don’t know how many Tesla this machine is but it is at a major university in my state. Perhaps the changes that have occurred are not visible (or yet).

I truly appreciate your ideas and questions thank you so much and best wishes!

[RoyceNewton in reply to jsb0410]

my pleasure, ask about the Tesla on the machine. If it is at a University I would think it is stronger, being higher Tesla. This means can see in finer detail which is good for us. Ay least that is how it was explained to me.

[jsb0410 in reply to RoyceNewton]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it have a great day and feel well!

[RoyceNewton in reply to jsb0410]

you as well

[mrsmike9]

"Is it possible to have new symptoms without MRI changes?" Yes, from what I've read. Plus the MRI's don't check the grey matter, even though I've also read there are changes in the grey. I wonder why that's not checked as well...

[jsb0410 in reply to mrsmike9]

Thank you so much for responding! I wasn’t aware that the grey matter wasn’t checked. That does seem very odd thank you so much I really appreciate your help!

[mrsmike9 in reply to jsb0410]

Sometimes I wonder if I had a younger neuro he/she might be checking it. My neuro is older than I am (60). But I don't know of anyone else in town who specializes in MS.

[jsb0410 in reply to mrsmike9]

Hi yeah the neurologist I was seeing in town wasn’t super communicative and even when I was diagnosed barely gave me any idea of what to expect

I just recently started seeing a new doctor who is at a big university and I’m driving about 2 hours but hopefully it will be worth it (fingers crossed lol)

Sometimes older doctors do get set in their ways

I figured by going to a research hospital perhaps they would have some innovative ideas but we shall see

I wish you the best!