My neurologist and PCP tell me that the white matter abnormalities and the large midline congenital arachnoid cyst in my brain are "common", and "nothing to be worried about" and they find them all the time in people who are not having any symptoms.
Well, I AM having symptoms. I have difficulty focusing my eyes and have recently been diagnosed with double vision and nystagmus. This gives me headaches, and It's much worse during my period. Recently my feet have also become very painful and "numb" and "crawly" and I have a "global loss of pinwheel sensation". (My chiropractor thinks something's up with a disc and I am scheduled next week for a lumbar MRI). I also am finding it extremely difficult to multitask, of course, also worse during my period or under times of stress. Here is what the MRI's said:
"There is a midline interhemispheric mass of CSF signal intensity measuring 2.5 cm x 5.2 cm x 2.2 cm. There is subsequent partial compression of the medial bodies of the lateral ventricles... No midline shift.
There are a moderate number of foci of T2 prolongation within the supratentorial white mater, none of which are definitively periventricular and all of which are nonspecific in etiology.... most likely represent manifestations of migraine headaches, chronic small vessel ischemic disease, and/or remote insults."
They did a new MRI with contrast, and nothing enhanced.
I do not have diabetes or a history of hypertension.
I've looked through my imaging and there are white spots EVERYWHERE in my brain. Is it reasonable for them to tell me that this is common? I am 38.
That doesn't mean that you don't have a severe migraine problem which needs treatment. Have you tried several daily preventative migraine medications? If that hasn't helped you enough, there are a lot of other treatments.
Let me know how you are being treated for your problems.
Sara
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