Can someone have MS with clear MRI ?

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
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Hello all,

I have never joined a forum previously and I find it very informative and helpful. Thank you all for sharing your personal experiences.

10 years ago I have been very sick with symptoms similar to MS and I was referred to a neurologist.The left side of my body was really compromised and I was almost unable to walk, I had vision issues and loss of sensibility.I was hospitalised for one week a did a number of tests as the neurologist believed that it was MS.The MRI showed some hyper intense areas in T2 but no active lesions and the LP was clear. The diagnosis was “suspected benign MS” . Not sure what suspected benign SM means…I was told to do another MRI one year later , which I did and was clear “unchanged” and another one 2 years later and it was clear.

Life moved on and I forgot everything. Now On the day of my 40th birthday the nightmare is back … my eyes are playing up , one day I see one day I don’t see, my legs are hurting, I keep tripping, The left side of my body has reduced sensibility, I feel dizzy confused and extremely tired and depressed.I thought it was work related stress however when I visited a neurologist he has mentioned that I have SM symptoms , pyramidal weakness,PARD etc. He did the blood exams and are clear and after he insisted I did an MRI with contrast. There are no lesions and the fainted bihemisferic Deep white matter hyper intensity is non specific and of doubtfull clinical importance. There is some moderate disc disease in c5 -c5. I send the results to my neurologist and she insists to do again the LP which I don’t want to repeat as I did it 10 years ago and It was negative. How many times I need to do it ?Does any of you had any similar experiences? Can I have MS with a negative MRI and clear LP ? I just want this to be over and the doctor to confirm that either I have or I don’t have MS .It has been 10 years now and I have learned to live with my issues here and there but I really don’t want to go through the diagnostic inter again to be told that they “suspect MS” but they don’t know yet. Is it worth seeing an SM specialist doctor privately? I was asked £300 which is a lot of money and I cannot affford to pay.I am getting stressed and I just want this to be over.

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Hello

I would expect that after all the MRIs you’ve had, none of which showed MS type lesions, coupled with the clear LP, means you don’t have MS.

Of course, I’m not a doctor. But from what you’ve said, your symptoms have been a bit like MS, but that can be true of many diagnoses. It’s just that there is no clinical evidence of MS.

I don’t think you can have one negative LP, then have another some years later and it be magically transformed to positive. Admittedly, only 80 to 95% of people with MS have LPs showing Oligoclonal bands (ie positive), so there are quite a lot of people with MS and negative LPs.

But negative MRIs and negative LP surely means no MS.

Have you had your blood tested for vitamin and mineral deficiencies? Vitamins B12 and D or Magnesium deficiency could look like MS. As could any number of other disorders. Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, Lupus, among others.

Or there’s a condition called Antiphospholipid Syndrome (aka Hughes or ‘Sticky Blood’ Syndrome, or just APS). That is hard to diagnose and can sometimes look like MS. Have a look at Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) - NHS

You’ve mentioned your eyes playing up. Have you seen an optician or optometrist? Maybe they could look at your optic nerve?

I think you should see your GP and talk all this over and maybe discuss what else could be the cause of your symptoms. I certainly wouldn’t spend money you can’t afford on seeing another neurologist to tell you virtually nothing.

I wish you the best of luck with your search for definitive answers.

Sue

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It does sound as though your neurologist doesn’t want to shrug and say she doesn’t know what if anything is the matter and see you in a year, which actually sounds to me less frustrating than the alternative. I am sorry that it is taking so long to find out what is the matter. But if you want to get to the bottom of it, it is hard to think of a better idea than sticking with the process and letting it play itself out.

I hope you get some clarity soon.

Alison

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Thank you Sue.

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Thank you Alison.

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