micheledom

Just a quick update LOL…my neurologist at CU feels the lesions in my brain are due to microvascular disease. They are following me symptom-wise every 3 months with an annual MRI of my brain, which will be August. They don’t seem to feel I need to be followed with a C spine MRI annually though, which does not make sense to me when there was so many changes in just a year…my PCP is sending me onto neurosurgery though so I’ll see what that dr says…

Thank you so much for all you do on here for people!

Hi there Dr. Corenman,

Well, you asked for me to keep you informed and here it is: I am now in Colorado specifically to get diagnosed. My neurological symptoms have increased tremendously such as falling, tripping, coordination issues, balance issues, and sometimes I’ll take a step and my leg simply is not there. I have speech problems, slurred speech.
Blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, short term memory problems that not only have me very concerned, but my family.
I forget conversations I just had, I not only forget what I was saying, but forget the subject we were even talking about. I have dizziness and lightheadedness, I forget my words, and sometimes I simply give up on trying to speak completely. I also have horrible mood swings out of frustration and my patience I once had is simply gone. I have had weight gain, but I don’t have an appetite and do not eat much. My weight is disproportianate. It is mostly centered in the middle.

A new MRI of my cervical spine now shows

Alignment: Straightening of the cervical spine. Anterior cervical fusion and discectomy at C4-C5. Vertebral body height and alignment are preserved.

Marrow signal: No marrow signal abnormality

Spinal cord: Small focus of increased cord signal in the posterior central aspect of the cord at C2-C3. Similar small focus of central increased linear signal in the posterior cervical cord extending from the level of C3-C4 to C7.

Intervertebral discs: Disc desiccation throughout the cervical spine. Disc heights are preserved.

Post-contrast images: No abnormal enhancement
Findings by level as follows:

C2-C3: No spinal stenosis or foraminal impingement.
C3-C4: No spinal stenosis or foraminal impingment. Mild right uncovertebral hypertrophy.
C4-C5: Anterior fusion. No canal stenosis. Left uncovertebral and facet hypertrophy with moderate left foraminal stenosis.
C5-C6: Disc Bulge. No spinal canal stenosis. Moderate to severe left facet hypertrophy with left uncovertebral hypertrophy resulting in moderate left foraminal stenosis.
C6-C7: Mild disc bulge. No spinal canal stenosis. Neuroforamina are patent.
C7-T1: No spinal stenosis or foraminal impingement.

IMPRESSION:

1. Small linear abnormal cord signal in the posterior aspect of the cord at C2-C3 and from C3-C4 to C7. Morphology is most suggestive of minimal single hydromyelia. (OF NOTE: The radiologist did not know about the previous MRI the year prior that showed abnormal signal).
2. No additional abnormal cord signal. No abnormal enhancement.
3 Multilevel degenerative changes as above. No significant spinal canal stenosis. moderate left foraminal stenosis at C4-C5 and C5-C6.
4. C4-C5 ACDF

Soooo…..hmmmm…..what do you think? Is it a lesion that tripled in size? Or something completely different?

I should also mention that in October I was diagnosed with aseptic meningitis for the fifth time and CSF was negative for HSV1 & 2 virus…also, the opening LP pressure was 28 cm/H2O and I had another LP in February due to meningitis symptoms and my head felt like it was going to explode. I was negative for meningitis, but the opening LP pressure was 41 cm/H2O.

An MRI of my brain’s dated October when I was dx with meningitis. IMPRESSION: A few scattered nonspecific deep and periventricular white matter small signal abnormalities. Diagnostic considerations include demyelinating process, sequela postinfections or inflammatory process, or early chronic small vessel ischemic change.

I appreciate any and all information you’re able to give me. I have learned that I need to be my own advocate and seek advice where I can get it.

Also of note, my neurologist here in Arvada thought I could have NMO and referred me onto University of Colorado Health MS/Neuroimmunology Dept and I had my first visit on April 13th and they are doing some more tests and doing some information gathering. He did say the lesion is not consistent with NMO because it is thin and he said NMO lesions are thicker. He has not looked at my brain MRI yet and is anxious to look at that due to the report.

I was just really wanting your thoughts on this as well.

Thank you so much and I hope you and your family have a blessed Easter.

Michele

Dr. Corenman,

You have done more for me by answering my questions than any of the “generic” neurologists that I’ve
talked to face-to-face down here……THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Best Wishes!

Michele