Well, i do have more information about my brain lesions but i didn't know the info when i wrote that question. I have been to 3 neurologists. The first was a moron, the second not very detailed in his info to me and the third i paid for out of pocket and he was thorough. When i did finally find the best doctor he told me i had extensive brain lesions and that this was serious, complicated and possibly life threatening. He was thinking Cadasil or MS. I have had mri's of the spine in the past week. I am waiting for the results of those before i get a spinal tap. i really do not want to have to resort to that. I also have bi polar which is really challenged under these conditions. I have not yet gotten the blood tests. These doctor's office are so inept with scheduling these tests. Mostly I suffer from spinal pain that is nearly unbearable. I have a high threshold for pain but i find myself crying in pain after a visit to Target or food shopping. I avoid the pain meds because i dont need a monkey on my back! Plus when i really need them to go shopping i cannot drive while on them. I believe these lesions happened because of undiagnosed high blood pressure for a long amount of time.

i thank you very much for your interest. Keep in touch!!

deb

Many people with MS are misdiagnosed with bi-polar disorder.  I have never heard of high blood pressure causing lesions.  My mother had high blood pressure all her life and she was never diagnosed with lesions from high bp.  Is there an MS specialist you can go to?  How about an MS clinic?  The first MRI I had showed extensive lesions and I was told I had MS.  Of course, they did then schedule a bunch of other tests to confirm that dx.  The lumbar puncture was not bad.  And it was used to confirm MS Dx.  I rarely hear of people with MS complaining of severe pain in spine but often they have had other problems like scoliosis that caused that pain or arthritis or even pain that seems to affect spine caused by improper MS caused gait.   Check out the National Multiple Sclerosis society, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America and the Multiple sclerosis foundation websites.

Hi Hmking,

Ok about the blood pressure. When HBP goes undiagnosed for a long period of time it can cause lesions. Both my parents have HBP so I woul always ask my primary if she thought my BP was high. (I rarely have ever seen a doctor previously). It sure sounded high to me, but she said no, it's just a little high, no problem. So, this went on for 2 years, until I went to a cardiologist and found out I had HBP. During those years not on the meds for pressure, the blood pressure gets too high and damages the brain. So, if your mom was on blood pressure meds or was diagnosed early, she wouldnt get lesions.

I had the spinal tap and you are right. It wasn't too bad until they hit a nerve. When I yelled OUCH, he dug it in further or so it felt. That's when the real loud OUCH came lol  They injected me with more litocaine and I was fine. After that they gave me lunch and within an hour I was discharged. I couldnt do the 2 hour wait!

I don't think I have the MS gait but I feel my posture has changed.

Here, in Phoenix we have the second top neurological institute in the country called Barrows. That singer Bret Michaels was there when he had his brain bleed. I am lucky to have that hospital here in "hospital hell."

I have had a bad back all of my life. I was born with a closed form of spina bifida. That, plus a few car accidents left me in varying degrees of back pain. Also, I suffer from arthritis and stenosis.

I cannot understand how brain lesions could be mistaken for bi polar..??? I also have been bi polar all my life and take meds for that.

What treatment do you get for the MS? I read horror stories about steroid injections but that is an avenue I will not go down.

thanks again for the info. i have read every ms website! I find asking patients with the disease is the way to get the real information.

God bless

debra