Can spinal tap show MS if Mri doesn't? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

1cshell · 01-20-2004, 04:20 PM

I had an mri done for ms and it came back normal. I am wondering if a spinal tap can show ms if the mri is normal. I have had extreme tiredness, dizziness, stumbling, leg aches, numbness in face, can't hardly walk when I get out of bed, etc for the past 2 months. In the past couple of days, I can walk when I get out of bed and I have been feeling better. My dr said since the mri came back normal that I didn't have ms. But I had something for 2 months because now most of it is gone and it has happened several times in the past years. Everybody I know thinks I am a nutcase and just imagining it all. Who knows!

Mom_of_two · 01-20-2004, 04:37 PM

MS can definately be around, yet not show up on an MRI. Did you have the MRI done of both your brain and spine? Because lesions can show up in either place. If you only had a brain MRI, it might be worth it to have one done of your spine as well. Sometimes MS only shows up in a spinal, so might be worth it, at least to ease your mind. Either way, you deserve some answers. Don't give up, you know if you aren't feeling right, so keep seeing doctors until someone listens to you. I can't stress this enough, because if it is MS or something else serious...you need to move on to the next step. In the case of MS, you'd want to start treatment ASAP to slow done the progression of the disease itself, and to slow time between flare ups.

I've read here and on other MS forums of many people who had symptoms for years, and the doctors would ignore it and tell them the MRI showed nothing, then later to find out they did indeed have MS. Also, keep in mind it isn't necessarely MS what you have, but something else. There are other health issues that have similar symptoms as MS, so your doctor should be testing you for those as well.

Take care, and I hope you get some answers soon. God bless!

Mom_of_two · 01-20-2004, 05:09 PM

Here's some additional info that I've found on the 'net:

Virtually all patients with definite MS have visible lesions on MRI, either in the brain or spinal cord. An occasional patient will have typical symptoms, relapses and disability with spinal fluid and other findings suggestive of MS but negative MRI. The absence of MRI lesions is certainly a red flag to look carefully for another explanation but some patients do have MS and normal scans.

1cshell · 01-20-2004, 05:25 PM

Thanks you for the advice. I know I was legitimately sick those 2 months but everybody thinks it was just stress. I have had these same symptons for the past 6 years on and off but this was the worst. Thanks for the support.

californiasunflower · 01-22-2004, 12:24 PM

Did you have a spinal tap to check if there is an infection or MS?

Have you had any blood tests done for other autoimmune possibilities?

If not, appears you need a lab work-up done.