Hi everyone
I have a question. How can doctors/ neuro determine between scars and ms lesions on an mri scan and is it possible that scars could be ms lesions?
My neuro ran an mri 2 1/2 months after my symptoms first started(unfortunately my gp ran a ct originally which did not show anything but eliminated tumour and stroke) and he told me it picked up a cluster of scars. He had been ruling out MS. Surely 2 1/2 months later any MS lesions would be scars by that time anyway?
Thank you
Blockquote
Sclerosis means scarring, and people with MS develop multiple areas of scar tissue in response to the nerve damage. Depending on where the damage occurs, symptoms may include problems with muscle control, balance, vision, or speech.
there is a lot of stuff on Internet about it which might help. Have you not been referred to a nuerologist?
Thank you for responding Crazy_Chick. It’s a long story but back in sept I started to become unbalanced and fell over a few times in the lead up to Christmas/new year.
I then became unwell in February after being hit by a terrible headache and waking the following morning to find that I couldn’t see out of my left eye. My vision returned after 10 minutes and I called my GP who referred me to emergency Opthamology who saw me 3 days later. I had a thorough eye exam which was fine. The ophthalmologist recommended that I have my arteries checked. That evening, 3 days after the blindness episode, my other symptoms began to emerge, tingling, buzzing, headaches, facial numbness, nausea, dizziness, reduced sensation.
I visited my GP again who ordered a scan on my brain and my arteries only I had to wait for these by appointment. that weekend I developed terrible pain in my scalp and head pain. I called the doctor on call who sent me to A&E. There I was given pain relief and advised I would have scan on the Monday. I had the scan (a ct scan which was clear) and the ultrasound on arteries in my neck(also clear) and was referred to neurology (gp certain this is migraine have ruled out other bad diseases). Neurologist examination was very thorough. Nothing was glaringly obvious aside from the list of complaints that I was experiencing there was nothing really that he could see. He ordered an MRI of my brain and cervical spine. This was carried out 2 1/2 months after this all began. The scan revealed this small cluster of scars (I don’t know how many) and it’s not possible to tell how long they have been there. They could be the cause of the problem, they might not. This is all I know. I am awaiting a copy of my mri report. I have been told via telephone that he has been considering MS and that the result is reassuring 
. So now I’m being treated for a continuous,m 3 month long migraine that has stolen my life and it really doesn’t feel right to me at all. I don’t understand how everything has been eliminated so easily. I’ve been prescribed Amitriptyline, Topamax, Riboflavin 400mg, Sumatriptan and I have Lansoprazole to protect my stomach. In the meantime I have started to get very very painful cramping pins and needles in my toes which has reduced me to tears, I still have terrible numbness on my forehead and any kind of activity is setting off headaches/ tingling. I have gone from somebody who works full time and is out 4 evenings a week to a hermit in a matter of a day and I just want my life back 
I’m not really sure what to think, I’m just really concerned that I’m not going to get well enough to return to work and I have a mortgage to pay you know, it’s been 3 months - I’m so worried x
I am sending you my journey i had the eye issues onset but not headaches. It might help it might not. but 2000 to 2016 it took to be told i had progressive MS. See what you think. xxx
i found this for you too. Headaches in MS | MS Trust.
Thankyou Crazy_Chick for responding and for sharing information with me. Your blog is so informative and well written. This information has been very useful. Thank you again.
Migraines can cause lesions. Just one of many things that can cause ‘non-specific white hyperintensities’ which is another name for ‘lesions that we’re not sure what the actual cause is’ …
Just thought I’d let you know, just in case your radiologist’s report refers to ‘non-specific white hyperintensities’.
I hope you do get a clearer answer. And more importantly that you do start feeling better soon. It is a big worry, especially when you are currently not well enough to work.