posted
For those of you who have tested postive for Borrelia or Mycoplasma in the cerebrospinal fluid, did you have any testing done that showed any kind of irregularities in the brain? For example, did you have an MRI done and did it show anything?
Mike
Posts: 252 | From Iowa | Registered: Mar 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
quote:Originally posted by mikej2323: For those of you who have tested postive for Borrelia or Mycoplasma in the cerebrospinal fluid, did you have any testing done that showed any kind of irregularities in the brain? For example, did you have an MRI done and did it show anything?
Mike
Hi Mike. I had MRI with multiple lesions (11), primarily frontal lobe area, largest at 5mm. I also had lumbar puncture, negative for borrelia, but showing elevated proteins. I was subsequently CDC positive on Western blot (blood). Also many weird, extremely low range numbers in the MS panel part, dunno what they meant. No oligoclonal banding. (Though that can be from lyme also.)
I would think you'd prefer to do the MRI first, as it's the least invasive. Seems different, doing a spinal tap first. If you captured Bb in the cerebrospinal fluid, good catch as it's not often found there and its absence means nothing about whether you have lyme.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I had CSF testing right after my blood came back positive. It too came back positive, and showed meningtis and encephalitis. During my long stay in the hospital, I was a guinea pig, and had pretty much every test you could think of. My MRIs did come back with multiple lesions (in my brain) that were consistent with the diagnosis of Lyme.
Since hospitalization, I have had 2 more MRIs of the brain, one of the spine, and a spect scan, that all support the diagnosis and my ongoing battle with the disease.
-------------------- Sometimes when I say �Oh, I�m fine� I want someone to look me in the eyes & say �tell the truth�
posted
I had a spinal tap a couple of months ago, and an MRI before that. My MRI was clear, and so was my cerebral fluid.
I was taken off IV Rocephin and oral Flagyl for about 4 months because I developed peripheral neuropathy in my feet. I am taking 2 neuropathic pain medications for them, and I have no idea how long, or, if ever, my feet will be the same.
Moreover, I lost the tastebuds in the center of my toungue (makes it hard being a chef), and still have numbness in my face and other neuro problems which are baffling the neuro duck my LLMD sent me to.
They did a neuro-psych evaluation on Thurs. that lasted 12 hours. This was to determine if my problems were psychosymatic, physiological, etc. The findings were that whatever my problems are, are coming from the left side of my brain. Also that I can no longer multi-task, and I'm having problems "processing", amongst other things. I found this whole procedure to be quite fascinating. It also gives the neuro a more specific direction to look in.
Best of luck to you, Jill
Posts: 203 | From Jacksonville, FLorida | Registered: Oct 2005
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Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979
posted
Husband had an MRI early on, and it came back fine. Had a spinal done about 1 1/2 months ago...and that came back negative.
Still has lots of cognitive problems.
Posts: 1366 | From Southeast | Registered: Sep 2005
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Mathias
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5298
posted
My MRI of the brain and spinal cord (complete) revealed no abnormalities and was of no diagnostic value.
-------------------- Mathias Posts: 1242 | From New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I have not had a cerebro spinal fluid test.
However, I have had an MRI and CAT scan of the brain and cervical spine that showed abnormalities (Arnold-Chiari) of the skull (probably congenital) and 'cerebellar atrophy' which is possibly congenital or from other causes such as aging. There was also significant stenosis of the neck vertebae. However, I also had a Spect scan that definitely showed abnormalities of blood flow in several areas. This is consistent with my symptoms which were manifested by severe neck/shoulder pain and other arthritis-like symptoms and a 'pressure' in the head (unlike any headaches I have ever had, including migraines). Subsequent treatment by Zithro and now Ceftin have resulted in elimination or minimization of these and other symptoms within a month of treatment.
The neurologist I went to saw the above in the MRI. However, a LLMD I went to also saw some spots in the spinal chord and brain that he said looked like 'demylinization' to him, which could only be caused by M.S. (which I don't seem to have) or Lyme. The neurologist and radiologists did not mention these spots, so I have no corroboration. I tend to believe the LLMD who had a great deal of experience reading the films.
My Lyme is most likely a relapse, as I was treated in 2002 and was relatively symptom free until Nov. 2005, when the neck/head pain appeared followed by the other seemingly unrelated symptoms several months later (hip pain, lower back pain, bronchitis, chest 'burning' after mild exercise).
My pre-antibiotic Lyme specific tests (Igenix) did not indicate a positive case based on the strict diagnosis of the CDC but there were some indeterminate bands suggesting Lyme. Neither did my first test in 2002. I will get a retest later. However, the fact that my symptoms have pretty much disappeared with AB treatment and that the other medical tests showed nothing to cause my symptoms seems to pretty much indicate Lyme or some other tick borne bacteria. I am also being tested for co-infections and heavy metals.
It is clear to me that the 'Arthritis' which I was diagnosed with was caused by inflammation of the spinal nerves and probably the brain. I do have spinal stenosis (probably due to age) but am no longer suffering significant pain at this time.
I am fortunate that AB treatment has helped me immensely thus far, which I know does not always occur.
-------------------- Mark J. Wallin, Ph.D. Posts: 32 | From Holland, PA | Registered: Jul 2006
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