Question 1

do i need a spinal tap to confirm ms or can i be diagnosed via demyelination and lesions on my mri plus physical symptoms?

Accepted Answer

: There are multiple options for diagnosis, spinal tap is not always needed.
Visit this site for info: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17248-multiple-sclerosis#:~:text=No%20one%20test%20can%20provide,cord%20that%20indicate%20multiple%20sclerosis.

Question 2

other than ms why can cause lesions on a spinal cord ?

Accepted Answer

Many possibilities : No simple answer, many disease can affect spinal cord, some prefer cervical some prefer lumber spine. 
It depends on your past medical history, other symptoms, family history, maybe even travel 
You need to ask your MD to refer you to neurologist or neurosurgery depends on above.

Question 3

could past spinal trauma be causing my ms like symptoms?

Accepted Answer

TOUGH AREA: First, not fully clear if non-penetrating trauma ever has caused or worsened ms, and the american academy of neurology does not feel there is sufficient evidence to indicate causation.  Yet injury to the spinal cord may cause damage that could fluctuate such as a spinal stenosis and might mimic ms.  This really deserves a more direct approach as you could have both.  See a neurosurgeon..

Question 4

what are the symptoms of ms in the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Multiple: Typically MS in the spinal cord presents in non-anatomic symptoms.  Weakness or tingling at one or more nerve levels on the right side and different levels or symptoms on the left.  A disc will cause symptoms on one side in a predictable distribution.  MRI with gadolinium offten suggests or demonstrates MS.

Question 5

recent diag. of ms by pa at neurologists office.  mri: 10-12 non-specific lesions occurring over 10 years; no obands, no lesions on spinal cord or optic nerve. 2nd opinion from wfu ms clinic did not concur with ms; complex migraine. how to proceed?

Accepted Answer

: Let's assume you have had a full and thorough evaluation and that migraine has been confirmed and MS excluded.  Now, find a neurologist who focuses on treating headaches, and have your next decisions routed through that facility.  Might return to WFU, or any local clinic which could provide this intervention.

Question 6

mri white matter/ 4 black holes.  no symptom of ms.  did a spinal taping results yet. what r the chances of having ms.

Accepted Answer

Unclear: It depends on the characteristics of the "black holes" that you see on the mri. Although they are in the white matter, there are some characteristic appearances and locations for ms. Typically, ms plaques don't appear like black holes, but without seeing the MRI it is hard to say. Wait for the results of the spinal tap and then go over them with your neurologist.

Question 7

4 years ago tested neg for ms with mri and spinal tap. have a lot of ms symptoms. whats the chances if it being pos now after 4 yrs?

Accepted Answer

Multiple sclerosis: You need to see a neurologist and be fully assessed. This disease can appear within a 4 year hiatus from your last exam. On the other hand it would be a little unusual and you may be having some other issues causing your anxiety. Please be seen and fully evaluated. Good luck.

Question 8

having symptoms that is possibly ms, but mri looked fine. was told that i spinal tap may be a good idea since that may show it. looking for advice.

Accepted Answer

See below: A spinal tap is a reasonable course of action to take.  If it comes normal, odds are very slim that you have ms.

Question 9

i am a 58 year old woman, who's feet are always cold and in pain i have been in good health although 3 years ago i had some ms type symptoms but the spinal fluid came back normal.

Accepted Answer

When : When you say your feet were "always" cold and painful, this has been a lifelong problem, or it developed recently?  I ask, because your answer makes a significant different in my opinion of the problem.

If it's a lifelong issue, it may just be that the arteries in your feet and lower legs are in spasm, causing the lumen of the vessels to be narrower, causing less blood to flow, and giving you cold (and even painful) feet.  I am describing raynaud's disease or phenomenon.  While you haven't really been diagnosed with ms, there is an association between ms and raynaud's.

If your feet have recently become cold and painful, i would focus on your circulation.  Does walking cause pain in your legs that forces you to stop and rest?  Is it painful to elevate your feet?  Are your toes white when you elevate them or red when you let them hang down?  These are all signs and symptoms of pad (peripheral arterial disease), and should be worked-up by a vascular surgeon.

I hope this give you some added insight as to the best way to proceed.

Question 10

can ms show lesions only in the brain and not in the spinal cord? and what type of ms would this be?

Accepted Answer

See below: If you have optic neuritis and suspicious lesions in the brain, you have a very high chance of having multiple sclerosis.  The absence of lesions in spinal cord is not exclusionary.  Although other disorders may cause your issues, would get diagnosis confirmed, and start a potent MS agent ASAP, if that seems to be answer.

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Doctor answers about:

Symptoms of spinal lesions in ms

A member asked:

Do i need a spinal tap to confirm ms or can i be diagnosed via demyelination and lesions on my mri plus physical symptoms?

A member asked:

Other than ms why can cause lesions on a spinal cord ?

A member asked:

Could past spinal trauma be causing my ms like symptoms?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of ms in the spinal cord?

A member asked:

Recent diag. of ms by pa at neurologists office. mri: 10-12 non-specific lesions occurring over 10 years; no obands, no lesions on spinal cord or optic nerve. 2nd opinion from wfu ms clinic did not concur with ms; complex migraine. how to proceed?

A member asked:

Mri white matter/ 4 black holes. no symptom of ms. did a spinal taping results yet. what r the chances of having ms.

A member asked:

4 years ago tested neg for ms with mri and spinal tap. have a lot of ms symptoms. whats the chances if it being pos now after 4 yrs?

A member asked:

Having symptoms that is possibly ms, but mri looked fine. was told that i spinal tap may be a good idea since that may show it. looking for advice.

A member asked:

I am a 58 year old woman, who's feet are always cold and in pain i have been in good health although 3 years ago i had some ms type symptoms but the spinal fluid came back normal.

A member asked:

Can ms show lesions only in the brain and not in the spinal cord? and what type of ms would this be?

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