MRI results

[pen1255]

I am a 53 year old female, have been having all sorts of minor problems for the past four or five years. Depression, fatigue, fairly serious mood swings, aches in my legs, especially the left. Was diagnosed with arthritis in my left hip and also my bottom disc, have arthritis pretty bad in my hands, also worse on the left side. Been on a variety of meds for depression, nothing really seemed to work, was put on anti-inflamatory for arthritis, helped with my hands but not alot with the legs, having some difficulty walking now for about two years. I also have alot of sinus problems, breath thru my mouth alot. Was using a neti pot with pretty good results for a while, now the water won't even go thru. I recently fainted at work one day. Not a big deal, one minute i was standing the next i was looking at the ceiling but at the time they checked my blood pressusre, blood sugar and both were good. i felt fine, just felt stupid for being on the floor. My family dr decided to do an mri since i had all these other issues and I also have a daughter with ms. This is the result of my MRI:

"MRI scan of the head was performed in multiple axial planes. After that, patient ws given IV injection of 15 cc of Magnevist. After injection of Magnevist, images were repeated in axial and sagittal planes. There is a single tiny area of abnormal signal at the junction of pons and medulla, immediately to the left of midline. This finding is visible ony in series 5-image 20. The same area shows no enhancement with IV contrast. This is either a small focus of demyelination or a small acute infarct. No hemorrage, mass, edema, infarction, demyelination or other absnormality identified in rest of the examination. There is an approximately 3.0 cm arachnoid cyst in right CP angle. It is causing mild compressionof the right side of the cerebellum."

Family dr sent me to a neurologist who said that he didn't think it was ms, or a stroke, but rather hardening of the arteries and is ordering a test on the veins in my neck to see if they are blocked and how much. He told me to quit taking my anti-inflamatory and quit smoking and to take a baby aspirin daily and that is it. Without the anti-inflamatory i am getting increasing stiffness in my hands, legs seem about the same. I would just like a second opinion as to his diagnosis, would hardening of the arteries show up in this way on an MRI? I feel like both this dr and my family dr don't understand how much daily difficulty i am having, they both seem to think i am ok yet everyone i work with and my family and friends all feel something is wrong with me and has been progressing, I was hoping for an answer to some of my problems and all i got was more problems it seems, the neurologist didnt' even mention the cyst so I am assuming it is no problem.

[MG (Admin)]

Thanks for your question....have you had a full neurological examination?
If not then this should certainly be done.
Please let us know what was or is found when this is done.