Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

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Anyone dx with PPMS had a neg. MRI??

tjquiver
tjquiver
Just wondering if anyone diagnosed with PPMS has ever received a negative MRI (no lesions), and if so, did they diagnose you with a Spinal Tap, symptoms/gradually, progressing dysfuntion, etc...?? I got my results today on my brain & Cervical spine MRI saying that it was negative for the brain & that I have moderate bulging of the C5-C6. The radiologist has asked for a follow-up MRI if symptoms persist.

I read in an article discussing PPMS (I started a thread on this), from the MSAA (MS Assoc. of America) website, that patient's (especially ones just beginning with "MS" symptoms) with PPMS won't always show demyelination in the brain b/c PPMS is more of a deterioration of the nerve cells in the spinal cord, where as, with RRMS, SPMS, & PRMS, you have places of inflammation/lesions showing up on the white matter of the brain/spinal cord. It also said that an MRI of the spinal cord would show a "slowly worsening spinal cord syndrome" known as "Progressive Myelopathy". In addition, it stated that atrophy (cell death) & loss of tissue are often apparent in the spinal cord caused by the degeneration of the nerve fibers.
Here is the link:
http://www.msaa.com/articles/Primary_Progressive_MS_Update.htm
Anxious to hear your input/responses!!
~Tonya :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I myself have ppms, and have just a couple lessions on the brain. For me, my body is begining to attack my internal organs. In the last six months, I've had my gallbladder and my appendix out. Now it is working on destroying my liver and kidney. (Notice everything is on my right side). I'm pretty sure that what you have described is what the dr.'s have said is happening (memory problems as well.) Yes, they wouldn't conclusivly dx. me until the spinal tap, and even then they sent me to another ms specialist for a second opinion. Good luck with you dx. Rana
tjquiver
tjquiver
Thanks for your info. Rana! :)
~Tonya
deleted_user
deleted_user
I find that fascinating, Rana. I also suffer from almost exclusively right-sided "damage," with a nearly useless right arm and leg, right eye visual loss, right-sided hearing loss, and I also just had my GB out recently. Ever since my "formal" diagnosis, I've failed to understand WHY I've been classified as RR (my symptoms do NOT have remissions). As well, I have only a couple of small lesions in my brain. Only my cervical spinal cord has been imaged and shows (besides a herniated disk) a syringomyelia (idiopathic, no ACM) and myelomalacia. It makes so little sense to me. In the meantime, my symptoms continue to worsen and more drugs are added to my regimen, but I have had no "acute flares."
deleted_user
deleted_user
I found this facinating myself, I have one lesion on brain stem and spinal cord, I have a herniated disc on the c5 c6 area and bulging disc c6 area,(lower). I was also asked to take a spinal tap and an mri of my lumbar(which is fine). Then I had the mri of the c5 c6 area come back as degenerative on multiple levels- so all this is new information to me. Thank you all.
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