Hello,
I was referred to a neurologist last year for abnormal sensations (pricking/pins and needles in hands and feet). Neurologist seemed unconcerned but said he’d refer me for an MRI to put my mind at ease. I had a brain (no contrast) and cervical spine MRI, which both came back “completely normal”. I was reassured by this and my symptoms eased, although didn’t completely disappear. A few months after the scan, however, I began experiencing a strange sensation where if I run my hands over anything I will feel a buzzing/vibrating sensation in both of my little fingers after I remove my hand. This isn’t always noticeable but is worse when I am tired/ morning after I’ve had a drink. This symptoms worries me, as before my sensations were random and I was happy to accept they might be in my head but the specific location and triggers for this sensation makes it seem less likely that I’m imagining it.
I was just wondering what having a normal brain and C spine MRI meant for the likelihood of an MS diagnosis? (these scans were done before my symptoms become more localised/specific) I’m aware 5% of people with the condition have a normal brain MRI but I can’t find anything about the likelihood of having a normal brain AND c spine MRI. I have read lots of threads about people having these kind of abnormal sensations years before any proper diagnosis and I suppose I’m worried that maybe these symptoms show a very early sign of MS that is not yet advanced enough to be detected by an MRI.
I know that nobody can give me any diagnostic information but I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts. In some senses I’m scared to go back to the GP in case anything does get found but also I’m only 22 and seem to spend a large proportion of my time googling things getting myself even more worked up so that’s not good either!
Thanks in advance 
I was so confused reading this because I thought I posted this previously or something…
I’m in the exact same situation
Clear brain and cervical spine scan but persisting weird sensations
i don’t drink but I THINK my symptoms get worse when I haven’t slept enough
& I just turned 23 this year!!! And also tired of googling (loool see my previous posts)
I’m also scared of finding out so partly avoiding but also then spending time googling
literally read my previous posts… we’re in the exact same situation!!! Look into FND, that’s what I’ve been googling currently to relax myself
Hello you two…similar ages etc…so I`m addressing you together.
I had 4 MRIs before my spinal lesions showed. There are many people who go un diagnosed as lesions cant be seen.
MS is often very difficult to diagnose. And as you know, there are so many variations in symptoms.
It may turn out to be something else altogether. There are over 350 known neurological conditions!
I feel it is such a shame you have this worry in your lives, whilst you are both so young and should be having fantastic lives in your 20s.
I suggest you keep diaries, stop consulting Dr Google…he can be such a torment!
The best thing you can do is to try to eat a healthy diet, get good rest times and pace your activities.
Love Granny Bouds xx
Hey, sorry to hear you’re going through such a worrying time. I would advise asking your hospital for a copy of the report and also the images on disk. Hopefully you’ll never need to think about them again in the future but it will be much easier if there are any future appointments (and less stressful for you) if you can hand them over yourself rather than chase up/rely on a chain of medical paperwork to be communicated. I only say this as my new neurologist has requested for me to do this so he can see my previous scan images and in hindsight I could’ve had them ready for him there and then if I’d thought to ask for them sooner.
Good luck to you both. I read somewhere that if you think you have MS the most likely outcome is you don’t. Something to give you hope!
xx
I see a lot of similarities. All my scans were also clear. My sensations also get worse when I am tired although currently I am able to manage and live a normal life. I have had to stop drinking coffee as it appears to be a trigger. I was diagnosed with FND so worth taking a look at that. Mine started at the end of last year shortly after a stressful event. Apparently stress can throw your nervous system out resulting in these wired symptoms. A few minutes of meditation a day using an App has helped me
Hi worried posters, I also am worried!! Except I’m 57 years old and have been worried for well over 15 years lol. I thought I may be able to bring you answers any week or so. 15 years ago I had a brain MRI which was normal and I felt the same way as you, perhaps I have early changes that are too early to be seen on MRI. Fast forward 15 years and my symptoms are much worse. I am having another brain MRI with contrast tomorrow. If there are findings I will let you know, that may clear up the question that many have: is it too early to see changes on MRI? . I find it hard to believe that I have had the symptoms for 15 years, so if nothing shows up that means there is nothing LOL. I hope it is comforting to know that there are a lot of people who tend to have these symptoms of tingling and paresthesias and never advance to anything further than that. I think that may be why we have this rash of neurologist who are not too concerned about people with tingling fingers and feet, they have seen a lot of people who have had tingling fingers and feet and other weird sensations for years but never had any further advancement but also no further answers? For now that’s what I am thinking until I get the results of my MRI. I will be able to look at the pictures tomorrow and it is very easy to see when there are signs of MS on an MRI so I will let you know!! interesting Lee you mentioned being tired exacerbating and symptoms and one of my worst symptoms right now is insomnia so I’m constantly tired so my symptoms are always worse. speaking of Doctor Google, I just happened to come across that there is actually a disease called fatal insomnia disorder which sounds like a horrible way to go!! Ugggggh!!! I’m assuming it must be so rare because I have never heard of anybody dying from insomnia before haha, I cannot get more than 3 to 4 hours of sleep every night for the last six weeks. I really don’t have any concern that I have that,I just think it’s interesting that it exists and shows that there are literally thousands of diseases that can cause really strange symptoms so that’s why it is difficult for urologist to sort it all out unless there is a very clear finding on MRI. Also my husband had Guillain-Barre a a few years ago, what does a sudden onset of Ms like symptoms, and it has a more chronic form called cipd chronic inflammatory poly demylinating , something to that affect. Very close symptoms to Ms and is never really brought up and any conversations that I see on forums regarding MS. Also there is an outside lab called Invitae that does genetic testing for many genetic forms of neuropathies, like Charcot Marie Tooth syndrome, etc. I just have the testing and everything came up negative it does not rule out Ms though but many other neurological illnesses that are hereditary. since my kids have a lot of unhealthy problems to I think it may be a hereditary problem that I have. They do not rule out all hereditary I want to say is only the ones that they have specific genes on. There are also idiopathic polyneuropathies, which means:1.“Idiopathic” (no causative reason) 2. “Poly” (many) 3. “Neuropathy” (tingling, burning, twitching, etc.) This definitely explains the many cases of neurologic findings that never have any cause. It would be nice if the neurologists would hand out this information like candy haha but they don’t, it would put people’s mind at ease that there are syndromes that cause these minor symptoms that never progress to anything. Of course I am not a doctor so please do not take my advice to mean anything substantial, only the experience of me pursuing causes of my own symptoms for the last 15 years. Good luck to all who are still searching for answers, and my symptoms have progressed to having falls, weakness as opposed to just tingling, burning pain in my back almost all day instead of 15 minute episodes, I feel like at this point if there is any MS it definitely should show on an MRI after this many years, I definitely hope there are some answers because I am beginning to feel disabled. I have an 8 month old baby granddaughter and I want to be able to take care of her safely. I have a lot of joint pain too and have become inactive so it could be that I just need to recondition my muscles with exercise and more activity. Sorry for the super long post!! Good luck!
Hey, did you hear back from the doctors?