Question: Hi. I just got an MRI of my thoracic spine due to upper back pain which has been radiating across my right shoulder and into my right arm. I noticed 2 things in the images: 1) bulges or herniations and 2) white spots on two discs. My questions are... does it look like I have bulges and/or herniations... and coukd those white spots be lesions?

Hi Dr Spaho. Thank you for your response. How can I get you all of the images in the MRI? I have a DVD of my MRI, but, there are probably 100 images on it. My Pain Management doctor ordered it so I don't know if the report will reflect any neurological issues that might appear in the images. Can a regular MRI detect demyelination of the spinal cord and active inflammation?

Honestly, I am concerned that I might have Multiple Sclerosis because I have a lot of the symptoms and diagnoses that correlate with the symptoms of MS. But, I've seen 4 neurologists in the past 5 years and no one has diagnosed me with MS. My insurance is Medicaid, which I understand only pays doctors half the costs that private insurance pays. So I wonder if they don't want to diagnose and treat me for MS because of my insurance.

Can you review my symptoms and diagnoses and let me know what you think I should do?

-MUSCULAR
----Cramping in legs, difficulty walking, muscle weakness in legs
----Diagnosed with mild muscle weakness via EMG; Fibromyalgia
BACK PAIN
----Entire back hurts when I move, sit, and lay down
----Diagnosed with protrusions and spinal stenosis in neck and lumbar
-EYE PAIN
----Pain sometimes when closing eyes at night and eyes keep moving
----No diagnosis
-BODY
----Fatigue, dizziness, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, poor balance
----Diagnosed with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia and Vasovagal Syncope
-URINARY
----Excessive urination at night, leaking of urine, strong urge, frequent UTIs
----Diagnosed with a-symptomatic UTIs by Urologist
-SENSORY
----Pins and needles in arms and legs
----EMG showed mild muscle weakness but no neuropathy
-MOOD
----Anxiety and mood swings
----Diagnosed with anxiety, depression, Bipolar and Borderline Personality
-COGNITIVE
----Poor memory, poor concentration, brain fog
----Diagnosed with moderate to severe impairments in auditory processing, auditory/verbal short term memory, non-verbal memory, new verbal learning, visuomotor processing speed, verbal abstraction, and verbal intelligence).

Thanks
Raquel