Can an MRI done on the back show early stages of MS? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

GlitterFairy · 06-15-2003, 11:38 PM

I have been having lots of strange things going on lately and my mom has MS and I have so many of her symptoms and others she doesn't have but I have rea about with MS patients. My doc doesn't want to send me to a neuro cuz with my isurance it is hard to get one. So he got an MRI done on my back to start with since most of my problems seem to be from there. So I was just wandering if they can see lesions on your spine on the MRI if you have the early stages? (I am only 23)

GinniBoBinni · 06-17-2003, 07:55 AM

If there are lesions, they will show up in the MRI. Although some folks with MS don't have lesions on the spine. Did he also do an MRI of your brain? I believe that lesions can show up anwhere past the age of 20.

GinniBoBinni · 06-24-2003, 08:37 AM

Lesions will either be there or they will not. They also appear in the brain. Did he also have a brain MRI? At 30, my MRIs showed lesions both in my brain and in my cervical spine.

The next step is a spinal tap to test the fluid for signs of MS. It is indeed hard to diagnose.

Good luck!