Question about positive ANA and MRI... - Neuromuscular Diseases Message Board

ryanbabs · 09-30-2005, 10:35 PM

Well, I'm getting all my stuff for the Infectious Disease doc I am seeing next week for my positive Lyme's test...I got a copy of all my work done from my neuro whom I saw last year.

The only abnormalties I see are:

1. "ANA screen was slightly positive" (was never told of this, except all labwork normal)

2. X-RAY: Mild spondylosis at C3 to C5 levels (I was told I had mild arthritis in my neck)

3. MRI: 2 small spurs are noted at C3-C4 and C4-C5 with no narrowing. No canal stenosis. Very minimal, if any, cerebellar tonsillar ectopia, yet no evidence of Chiari malformation. No cord lesion identified.

I have BFS symptoms also, but I am wondering about the positve ANA...was told my symptoms are not explained by anything on MRI...any help?

Murphy · 10-24-2005, 06:13 PM

I'm not sure why U R going to a infectious-dis. doc because I don't know
your other problems but the ANA (anti-nuclear antibody test) is on the labs
from your bloodwk. Ask Dr. for a copy or read the blood test results if U have them. I have bulges & arthritis at c3-c7 + a spur. They always write the term
`spondylosis'. It means something like what we have or a curved cervical
problem. Try to keep neck straight & even sleep flat w/o pillow. It helps
keep inflammation & nerve swelling down. I use hm-traction for flair-ups &
use stacked ph-bks to raise up computer so neck doesn't arch. Your skull
base has a `nerve-bundle' & if this swells it can cut off spinal flow + nerve
conduction to the brain. A lyme test can be ordered by any MD. Why R U
being sent elsewhere? An ANA can show positive or neg. day to day. See if
it reads (Titer). This is the pattern ANA has that can help determine things.

ryanbabs · 10-24-2005, 06:53 PM

The ANA was positive again with a titer of 1:80 and "speckled". She says it is only "mildly" positive, whatever that means.

Murphy · 10-24-2005, 10:43 PM

Ryan: Don't know what BFS is but what type Dr. do U have? Reg. MD or a
special field? Why were U sent for MRI? To rule out a symptom? Anyway,
ANA 1:80 isn't bad but alerts of possible internal condition or illness. The
Titer (speckled) shows up sometimes in Lupus or other autoimmune problems.
Normal is 1:16 or reported as negative because its so low. Lyme test is often
run if an autoimmune is suspect. It's used for other things besides Lyme.
Any rashes, aches, neuro problems? Any mention of a possible vascular
condition? Dr. may have run a CRP or SED-rate for inflammation that is still
trying to narrow things. ANA also shows up in some infections too.

ryanbabs · 10-25-2005, 01:55 PM

Is CRP C-Reactive Protein? If so, it was normal. What is SED rate? I have mostly neuro problems...twitches, tremor, occasional vertigo, tinnitis (have had hearing loss in one ear that lasted a few hours), sleep paralysis, muscle pain, mild joint pain, etc...she sent me for MRI due to neuro problems, and her concern about the sleep paralysis, as she thinks it could be a seizure. I've had 2 negative Lyme tests (Quest and Laboratory Corp. of America) and a positive Western Blot through Igenex (confused)? She discredits the Igenex test, but is still doing tests.

BFS= Benign Fasciculation Syndrome

What other autoimmune/infections can signal a positve ANA? I mainly find Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus (my mom has RA...my R factor is only 5). Sjorgen's is another...what about MS?