Hi, I was wondering how long lesions on MRI stay visible? the reason why I am asking: Back in 2010, I noticed weakness and tingling in my left leg and hand. Around the same time I was having problems with my vision, which look to have been vertical double vision, also at some pointi was documented to have nystagmus (but I don’t know when!). I was sent to a neuro, but things had normalised. Because at roughly the same time I had started having twitching, things went down the line of trying to discover what was happening with that, and I didn’t get an MRI until about 8months later. This MRI was of my head, with no contrast and was completely clear. Nothing ever came of those investigations, and I was left to my own devices. Fast forward to dec 13, and I had a bout of what was subsequently diagnosed as ON. This led to a neuro referral, who I saw in March. She told me she highly suspected MS, and that she felt that the first bout of stuff was CIS. She wanted to send me to the specialist MS neuro, but as she is a registrar she was overruled by her consultant who said to do VEP and MRI first. When I asked her direct she confirmed that she had verified issues with me during her examination which are definitely neurological and suggestive if demyelination, and reassured me she would get to the bottom of things. I finally have my MRI appointment on 22nd May, which is listed as MRI of head and full spine, with contrast. I am panicking a bit, because I rang the neuro’s sec the other day to find out what was going on, and she said that when the MRI results come back, if they are negative I will be discharged back to my GP without further appointment… So I am worried that it may be too late to show the lesions from back in Dec/jan and wonder if that is why my MRI was clear back in 2011… I’d love some reassurance or help if anyone is around… Leah 
Like you in my exam there was evidence enough to warrant the mri, the neurologist never mentioned ms just said that he was looking for demyelination in the brain. However, the mri (without contrast) was clear and yes I was discharged straight back to my gp but with the rider on the bottom of the letter, that he would be happy to see me again. That was back in November, I never bothered asking to see him again, stubborness on my part. My symptoms have got worse so my gp is referring me back. See what happens, from my experience it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road. Take care Lou x
Please try to take it one step at a time. Trying to see further ahead than it is currently possible to see is not going to help.
Of course you are shaken up and worried - who wouldn’t be? - but try to take a a few deep breaths and remind yourself that you are OK, and that you will find a way of dealing with whatever comes along. If the scan shows something, you’ll deal with it. It is doesn’t, you’ll deal with that too. Whatever the bridge turns out to be, you will find a way of crossing it when you come to it. Try not to over-plan. There are just too many variables in the equation for you to be able to solve it just yet, so try not to exhaust yourself in the attempt.
Good luck.
Alison
p.s. Lesions old and new should show up on an MRI if they are big enough. If they do inject you with contrast dye, that will allow them to see if any lesions are currently active and inflamed. But they don’t need the contrast dye to tell them whether the scan is suggestive of MS.
Hi both thanks so much for replying. I think that I am a bit emotionally bruised by the first time, I lost my job because not only did the neuro tell my company in a letter that there were no medical explanations for my symptoms, but also because they did not find out what was wrong and I wasn’t able to do my job. (I had to drive for a living and could not cope with it, now I know I have foot drop and double vision and occasional nystagmus, so I understand why). I was so pleased when this neuro reassured me that she would get to the bottom of things, and she even said “I think you have had all of these symptoms and lots of people, each looking at a small part of it, you need one person looking at it all”. So I just felt like it didn’t matter what happened with the MRI, I was being looked after. Now I am concerned that she will discharge if the MRI comes back neg, because I will be back to square 1 again. I suppose if the MRI is neg she isn’t the right doc, but I can’t help feeling a nagging doubt that the MRI/VEP is too late and it will all have healed. But Alison, I know what you are saying is right - I am a therapist so should know better than to think in this way. However, although I am coping relatively well, my nature is to solve problems - so allowing things to just be is not my natural setting! Thanks again… Leah