Migraines and MRI

Diseases & Conditions Migraine Headache
1
I've been reading a lot about MRI/MRAs (just had one) and I've seen several references to complicated or atypical migraines actually showing up on MRI.  Has anyone else experienced this and how did they differentiate it from MS? by symptoms?
 
Just a little background... I've had migraines since I was 15 years old (24 years).  They've cycled from bad to not-so-bad to bad again to awful.  I'm currently in the awful stage.  I'm also being investigated for autoimmune disease and currently have the diagnosis of Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease.  Many of my current symptoms have my neuro sitting up and taking notice (facial numbness, cognitive dysfunction, balance issues, etc) and I think she's trying to rule out MS with the MRI/MRA, EEG (which I'll have today) and a full neruo-psych work-up.
 
~Lauren
2

Lauren~

Let me do some research and find out a little more and I will get back to you. My doc just scheduled a MRI w/ contrast for me as well. I have "loss of sensation" on the right side of my body (to the point where you can prick me with a pin and I barely feel it) So, let me look up a few things and see what I can find out.

I do know that with MRI's they can look to see if you have "white matter" on your brain and that is a sign of migraines.

Take care and Hang in there,

Sara

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3

Lauren,

Migraines are so hard for a doctor to say oh yes she has migraines because this test says so. There is nothing a doctor can see or do to confirm migraines. So they use every test that they do know and rule out things one by one. My doctor has checked me for epilepsy, brain abscesses, horner syndrome, fibromyalgia, ms and many others. So far I have been lucky and he hasn't found anything so we are left with migraines. Most people who suffer from migraines have clear, mri,ct, and eeg. And you want all thoses test to come back clear!!! If they don't then you usually have a bigger problem. So try not to worry until you get the results back ok? Good luck and post soon I'll be thinking of you.

Ashley

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4

Here's an interesting study, showing white matter lesions in migraineurs:

http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives/mri_migraineurs.html

This would seem to suggest that there could, indeed, be small white matter lesions on the brain of a migraineur.

I had the oddest reaction to the EEG yesterday -- has anyone else experienced this?

When the flashing lights got really rapid, my head started jerking and my left arm started twitching.  It was very disconcerting.  Anyone else experience something similar during the EEG?

Thanks for the support!  I'll try to be a better board buddy than I have been recently.

~Lauren

5

We're glad to have you Lauren!!!

I don't have much to say about the weird incidents with the EEG...What did the doctor say? Oh, and thanks for the link-I had heard about that before regarding white matter lesions on the brain in migraineurs...it is definitely interesting stuff.

Sara

 
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6

Sara,

I haven't seen the doc yet -- they're just running all of these tests and then I meet with her again next month.  My final test is this Thursday - a neuro-psychological work up.  Once that's done, I'm going to see if I can move up my doctor's appointment.  I'd like to have some answers and March 14th seems way too far away for my comfort.  If there's something wrong, I want to know about it NOW!

7
P.S.  A buddy of mine on another board suggested that the odd occurrences during the EEG were a seizure.  You'd think that if that's the case, they would have called me!
8
I have yet to have my MRI done, the doctor's office was supposed to schedule it, and apparently never did...they haven't called me back. So, you would think that if I had a stroke, and you a seizure that someone would call and say something, right????
 
ARG!!!! I'm in a bad mood....:-)  trying to get out of it though!!!!
 
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