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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Question about MRI Findings

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Topic: Question about MRI Findings

LostCityAgent
Unregistered

posted

I am seeing Dr. P in CT. I have probable Lyme and have a question about my cervical spine MRI.
I will share the impression and if anyone knows what it means, help me out please.

IMPRESSION:
Extensive areas of hyperintense signal within the cervical spinal cord, most consistent with a demyelinating process. No enchancement was demonstrated. Please see report from MRI of the brain.
Does this mean that I have lesions in the c-spine?
As scientific and well read as I am, I have no idea what it means.

Thanks,
John.

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seibertneurolyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6416

posted

Sounds like lesions in the spinal column to me.

My hubby has an uncle with MS -- his lesions are in the spinal column instead of his brain.

Not saying you have MS -- just that the lesions can be in either the brain or the spinal column for a number of reasons.

Obviously something is attacking the myelin.

Just curious, did you ever have any type of injury to your back or neck that could have triggered some sort of inflammatory response?

Bea Seibert

Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged |

bettyg
Unregistered

posted

WELCOME JOHN to our lyme board. What did your dr. have to say. I'm hoping to meet with MD this week who read my brain MRI 2 wks. ago.

I don't have any medical background so I'm passing on your question, but lately had a brain MRI done, and my comments are posted in this medical area.

Here are some basic newbie info links. Treepatrol's is no. 1 to go to....extensive. It might have things there about MRIs, etc. Tree constantly adds and did yesterday again.

A medical sight I like is: www.medlineplus.org which is a user-friendly Natl. Institute of Health site of illnesses, meds, dictionary & for specific illnesses, etc.

Welcome to this 24/7 LYME support group board!

Here's TREEPATROL's and Tincup's combination newbie links.

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/029917.html

Print off the links then check them off as you read as you could spend
several months reading all of this.

print & read Dr. Barrascono's 2005 info first; you will come back to this often.

Extensive info in Treepatrol's newbie links about the meaning of WESTERN BLOT IGM/IGG test results from Igenex! Be sure to read or print this info IF Igenex tested you ok!

Also, see Cheryl's extensive web sites on: LD DIAGNOSIS, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENT ... wonderful! Read the area on CO-INFECTIONS! You
could have from 1-12 other illnesses that tick is carrying...lyme, malaria, etc.

If you are showing symptoms of co-infections, I would like to suggest being tested for co-infections when you have LYME western blots done. It isn't cheap!! But if you are positive, you can treat the co-infections first, and then work on LYME symptoms.

http://www.lymeinfo.net/lymediseasetreatment.html

EYE SENSITIVIES & NOIR, no infrared sunglasses info., 2-28-06 updated

YES, I have what you have! Are you on doxy too? That made my extreme eyes
200% MORE sensitive than they we were earlier.
I learned a lot about eye sensitivity/lighting on
www.marshallprotocol.com board.

Look for AUSSIE BARB'S EAST FINDER and then eyes/sunglasses, etc. Wealth of info there.

I ordered the NOIR sunglasses. 2-26-06 corrected wrong email to:
http://www.noir-medical.com/noir_amber.htm

You will need 2% amber and 10% amber ... Style no. 901 and 910.
1-800-521-9746 TOLL- FREE

mention you have lyme and marshall protocol, they will give you 20% off!
Also they have been kind enough to replace the SCRATCHED LENSES & BROKEN BOWS! How's that for service?

I don't drive often at night, but I can wear NOIR's 901 lenses at night while
driving; it creates soft candle lights coming at me...tolerable. NOT to wear in town with all the action of people crossing where they shouldn't be, etc.

from LOU to Betty on LONG web links and Thank You Lou!:
"If you hit the return key in the middle of a link, I don't think it will be clickable anymore. An alternative that maybe Betty should be telling people about is the tiny url website. I have it on my tool bar at the top of the page and use it for
those incredablylongwebsiteaddresses.

All you have to do is ask tiny url to produce a short version, which it will do with a unique address, which you then use instead in your post. Works just the same when clicked! Here is the website, spread the word!

http://tinyurl.com/

3-1-06, fyi, I tried dragging tinyurl to my toolbar without success, so that's why I currently have LONG addresses vs. short tiny ones! I'll keep trying.

UNDERSTANDING HERXING REACTIONS
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=041517

Tincup's explaination of Camp A and B, Steere vs. Burrascano, on short term antibiotics vs. long-term CHRONIC abx.
http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=021395

TESTING FOR LYME DISEASE ... 3 main LYME TICK BORNE LABS IN USA!

The WESTERN BLOT IGM & IGG blood test nos. 189 and 188, are the only accurate tests for LD. They should only be sent to these 3 USA's Lyme
testing labs:

IGENEX LAB:
797 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
1.800.832.3200.

(If the early test, called IGM, is negative; the later test IGG is NOT done!)
Please see their web site:
www.igenex.com CALL for their current prices effective OCT. , 2005 and

to print their REQUIRED form, which MUST be signed by the doctor,
DIAGNOSIS CODE NO. COMPLETED!; Medicare's UPIN no., and your
blood taken EARLY in the week so it doesn't sit in post offices! Example,
have it taken Mon. - Wed. Afternoon tests show more positive lyme results!

Here is the site to PRINT THEIR REQUIRED FORM to send with blood sample.
For me, I printed the FIRST option available on the forms.

http://www.igenex.com/formset2.htm

Write on their forms you want results FAXED to their drs. Office; snail mail paper
copy so it's not lost like mine was!

NON-Medicare patients must PREPAY by check or credit card for the tests since
they do NOT handle insurance papers.
Medicare patients do NOT have to prepay!

2. MDLabs from NJ, www.mdl.net
see their site; they too require their own form. NO prices are listed; you must
call their 800 no.

3. BOWEN labs from Florida, www.bowen.net 727.937.9077.

You pay $250 tax-deductible payment for testing, and they send you a picture
of what shows up in your blood. You also get the results within 24 hours after the blood is received at Bowen. They are also a 501(c)(3) lab and you can take the donation of $250 off of your taxes if you live in the US.

They fax the results and then about a week later send the actual pictures.

NO way to file for insurance since it's only a brief letter you get back from them even WITHOUT a 501 federal tax no!

Lyme should be diagnosed clinically using medical history in addition with the Western Blot blood tests as no currently available test is definitive in ruling-in or ruling-out infection with Ld pathogens, or whether these infections are responsible for the patient's symptoms.

NOTE: Please send a copy of your health insurance card to YOUR insurance comany (mine is Wellmark BC/BS, Iowa) for them to submit to BLUE CARD (handles other states) them to FORWARD to California's Blue Shield health insurance company since they will require that, DRS. Diagnosis Code No., and which date of service is correct (IGX has 3 different dates on their paid receipts....use the DATE OF ACTIVITY!).

FYI - mine was returned to me after 6 wks. After submitting; dr./blood lab
failed to show DRS. DIAGNOSIS CODE NO. on their form! It went to 7 people to be returned to me! Disgusting!

IP: Logged |

Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200

posted

"Dear John,"

(Boy, I bet you hate it when people start notes like that, don't you?) [Wink]

Hi, and welcome to LymeNet!

What did your brain MRI say? Did it also show hyperintensities or lesions? Does your neurologist feel you have MS and not Lyme? (They usually do.)

I have not had a cervical MRI; however, did have a brain MRI showing multiple lesions. Also, bilateral pain and sensory loss in arms on somatasensory testing suggestive of demyelinating disease.

Other things did not fit the MS picture, however, plus I recalled a tick bite and rash (MANY bites, in fact).

A Bb infection is absolutely capable of mimicking the course of MS and of nerve demyelination. Lumbar punctures can even show the oligoclonal banding common to MS and be caused by Lyme and NOT MS.

What are your symptoms and history? What's your present diagnosis from your present doctor/duck?

But most importantly, what the heck is a Ph.B?

[confused]

Michelle

Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged |

lymeloco
Unregistered

posted

Michelle, Ph.B can mean bachelor of philosopy. Not sure if that's what his means. [Smile]

IP: Logged |

LostCityAgent
Unregistered

posted

Hello Michelle, and the others who helped me.
I am not that new to Lyme as I have dedicated many hours in composing a 63 page pathogenesis on my report and descriptive etiologies. I am not a doctor and do not understand everything nonetheless.
Anyway, I just spoke to my Lyme specialist about that cervical MRI. I have multiple non-enhanced lesions throughout the cervical spinal cord. We do not know yet about the thoracic spine. My brain has multiple lesions, 5 enhanced largest 8mm, ovoid (enhanced).
I have had 83 symptoms. I will list these after I answer the Ph.B. question. Mine was in Phil but specialized in Epistemology. I am doing my doctorate now in Metaphysics.
Anyway, over the past 10 years these have been my symptoms: the neuro stuff started in 1999 benginly. Became seriously noticed last February (2005).
Here are the symptoms:
1. Internal Vibration
2. Pruritus/ani.
3. Paresthesias.
4. Numbness.
5. Vertigo.
6. Burning.
7. Heat patches.
8. Stabbing pain/Shooting pain.
9. Possible Lhermitte's Sign.
10. Possible Short Term Memory Loss.
11. Raised rash/lesion/Maculopapular Lesion?
12. Headache.
13. Pressure in Head/White Matter Lesions.
14. Twitching/Fasciculations.
15. Hand Malformation.
16. Tingling of nose, (tip of).
17. Stiff/Painful neck.
18. Jaw pain/stiffness.
19. Acute (rapid) Combinatory back pain/sickness feeling. (No name)
20. Sore throat/clearing throat a lot,/phlegm/hoarseness/runny nose.
21. Decreased hearing in one or both ears.
22. Plugged ears.
23. Buzzing in ears.
24. Pain in ears.
25. Oversensitivity to sounds.
26. Ringing in one or both ears.
27. Popping in ears.
28. Increased floating spots. (eyes)
29. Pain in/around eyes.
30. Oversensitivity to light.
31. Flashing lights.
32. Diarrhea.
33. Constipation.
34. Irritable bladder/trouble starting/poss. Interstitial cystitis.
35. Possible External Sphincter Dyssynergia (DESD).
36. Bone pain/joint pain/ poss.
37. Carpal tunnel syndrome. (possible early)
38. Upset stomach.
39. Nausea.
40. GERD. (possible).
41. Stiffness of joints/back/neck.
42. Chest pain.
43. Muscle pain.
44. Spasms.
45. Cramps.
46. Night sweats/Day sweats.
47. Unexplained chills.
48. Heart Palpitations.
49. Tremor. (agitated)
50. Fatigue. (mild)
51. Weakness.
52. Malaise.
53. Partial Paralysis/Stroke? (possible)
54. Lymph Node Pain. (armpit primarily)
55. Dental Pain.
56. Pain. (generalized)
57. Pressure in head. (front/back/all over)
58. Poor balance. (minor)
59. Dizziness
60. Difficulty walking.
61. Increased motion sickness.
62. Lightheadedness.
63. Wooziness.
64. Heavy Headedness.
65. Insomnia.
66. Depression.
67. Irritability.
68. Mood swings.
69. Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
70. ``Bubbling'' Sensation. (feet)
71. Popping noises in ankles.
72. Jerking/Jolt.
73. Sleep Apnea. (possible, suspicious)
74. ``Atrophy''
75. Expressed Energy in Bed.
76. Anxiety.
77. Testicular pain.
78. Pelvic pain.
79. Increased affect from alcohol and possible worse hangover.
80. Unidentified skin blotches/freckles

My doctor can treat me, but he said that it is going to be difficult. Such as risk of hyperflexia (SP?) and what not. It is obviously advanced Lyme disease or MS. Actually, he thinks that MS is apart of Lyme and it is treatable with anti bios.

Let me know, and thanks.
Jmcc.

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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102

posted

Dr. P. has a full presentation with slides, etc. showing past & current researrch tying LYME AS THE CAUSE OF ALOT OF MS...he has a paper copy in his waiting room.

Yes he is my doctor & after 17yrs of being told I had/have MS found out cause is lyme. You see MS is a disease named for symptom multiple lesions...whether in spine, or brain. Find the cause. stop the progression. Lyme is a demylating desease.

I say I have Lyme induced MS since I got the MS lable back in 1988. My body has a MS type response to lyme. some get the Athritis type, or lupus type or fibromylagia type response....all triggered by Bb.

The report does not say MS but "most consistent with a demyelinating process". Apparently you MRI was read by a Dr. not quick to "lable MS" and be marked forever and make life difficult to get any insurance, including life.

Lucky you found Dr. P. He will try to find cause but if you're from North East most likely it is Bb that caused the immune response.

If anyone wants to see Dr. P. presentation there is a DVD of a lyme conference in Farmington,CT on May 2005 at http://www.ctlymedisease.org Dr. P's presentation is on the 4th & 5th DVDs I think.

I've been under his care for 2 years and have improved tremendously...first year was tough, many ups & downs but he always was there for me via phone. He now has quite a few of my family for patients.

[ 07. April 2006, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: dmc ]

Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004 | IP: Logged |

pattilynn
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 8065

posted

John,

I see you've had symptoms for 10 years. Are these the first MRI's you've had?

Posts: 340 | From Ohio | Registered: Oct 2005 | IP: Logged |

LostCityAgent
Unregistered

posted

Patti,

Yes, these are the first. He guesses man years as stated. I do not remember any symps that were neuro until I went and looked at old Emergency room records. Found neuro stuff reported (vertigo, foot numbness, balance) as far back as 1999 when I was 20.
Weird stuff. 19 yr olds are rare to get MS, especially males. So who knows, I know that something is not right. I am just glad that I am young and strong to fight. You know? My granddad an old Oregon farmer died of Parkinson's Disease and as I stated WA/OR prev in Lyme. I wish I would have known. He lost his life.

Regards,
Jmcc.

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