New here and so many questions!! (unexplained motor and sensory symptoms)

**skrwolf** · 12-09-2009, 06:02 PM

Hello! I am a 34-year-old mother of 4 with a long history of unexplained motor and sensory symptoms. I have seen four neurologists, all who determined I did not have MS. I have had numbness in my arm, neck pain, severe headaches, weakness in my legs, now weakness in my arm.

I have been researching to see if I could find another explanation for my symptoms. I happened upon cervical myelopathy. I must say, when I read about it, all of the symptoms sounded so familiar!!

I have had four normal brain MRI's, a thoracic MRI with minor disk changes, and two normal EMG's. I have never had a cervical or lumbar MRI.

Could my symptoms possibly be related to stenosis/myelopathy with normal EMG's? If this was myelopathy, it would explain so many things!!!

I am seeing my primary care physician on Friday and am going to see if he will order a cervical and lumbar MRI. Any thoughts?

Thank you so much!!

Shelly

**Justin** · 12-09-2009, 06:08 PM

Hi Shelly,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society!

I'm glad you found us. Many Spine Patients can have normal EMGs and still have significant spine issues. Thus, it is possible that your symptoms could be attributed to your cervical spine. Good luck at your Primary Care doctor on Friday.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

**Keano16** · 12-09-2009, 06:32 PM

Normal EMG does not mean too much. You should make MRI with contrast.

**skrwolf** · 12-09-2009, 06:44 PM

The primary care that I am seeing on Friday is pretty open to suggestions, so hopefully he won't have a problem ordering them. I work at a smaller hospital as an RN. We have MRI but would it be better to have it done somewhere more specialized?

**Justin** · 12-09-2009, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by skrwolf

The primary care that I am seeing on Friday is pretty open to suggestions, so hopefully he won't have a problem ordering them. I work at a smaller hospital as an RN. We have MRI but would it be better to have it done somewhere more specialized?

Depending on your hospital, they might refer you elsewhere but it shouldn't be a problem.

**KBear** · 12-11-2009, 05:27 PM

and good luck with your doctor appointment. I completely agree with the others that a normal test result is not neccessarily accurate. I was told for almost 3 years, that they just didn't know what was wrong with me. The drs acted as if I was lying and not in pain or shouldn't be in pain. I then found a new dr, who looked at my MRI, not the report and said I had DDD and would be a great canidate for ADR. I then saw 3 more surgeons, who all agreed on this. So, my point being, regardless of what the reports say, I would take the actual images and go see a surgeon, as they 'read' these differently than the radiologist. It is very common for the radiology report to say one thing and the surgeon to say another. Good Luck and keep us updated.

**skrwolf** · 12-12-2009, 02:24 AM

I saw my doctor today and although he didn't think with a normal EMG it could be related to cervical spine issues, he agreed to an MRI. He ordered a brain MRI (to follow up on the MS issues) with contrast and a cervical MRI without. Should I have the cervical MRI with contrast?

**Justin** · 12-12-2009, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by skrwolf

I saw my doctor today and although he didn't think with a normal EMG it could be related to cervical spine issues, he agreed to an MRI. He ordered a brain MRI (to follow up on the MS issues) with contrast and a cervical MRI without. Should I have the cervical MRI with contrast?

Hi Shelly,

Contrast is used for better tissue discrimination and can demonstrate more clarity. Contrast dye is helpful for those Spine Patients that have had spine surgery previously--the dye can help differentiate scar tissue.

Good luck!

**KBear** · 12-12-2009, 02:00 PM

Also, sometimes if the dr has ordered without dye, the person doing the MRI will use it, if they think it is neccessary. I have had this happen, where a dr didn't order it, and they did it anyway. I would ask the dr who ordered it for a with and without dye one on the cervical, because it can show alot more than just a regular one. That is what finally showed my problems.