Lumbar MRI question

This has been on my mind a lot lately. How important is it to have an MRI of the Lumbar spine? I have had the head, cervical, & thoracic MRI, but not the Lumbar MRI, neurologist that ordered the others said lumbar was not necessary. Along with all my head, neck pains, and other symptoms I do have lower back pain. Is it something I should ask my dr to have done?

They may be looking to rule out tethered cord. The NS I saw said some of my symptoms could be caused by that and wanted a lumbar MRI to rule it out. Turns out I had one a few years back and he said he could just view the disc of that one since if it was there before it's still going to be there.

My neurologist who ordered my other MRI said it was not necessary and that Chiari was not what was causing my symptoms, but was not willing to do further testing to see what was. Here is my symptom list, needless to say I am no longer working with that nerologist.

Pressure in the head - sometimes with aching

Neck pain & tension

Back pain - upper and lower

Memory loss / confusion / comprehension struggles

Sensory loss / decreased sensation in extremities

Muscle weakness, stiffness & pain

Tingling & numbness in extremities, head, and face

Foot drag / gait disturbances

Left foot turning in

Fatigue

Light sensitivity and difficulty adjusting to light change

Voice weakness, hoarse

Cardiac issues - chest pain, AV Heart Block, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath,

bradycardia, edema, poor circulation - cold hands and feet

Ringing & intense itching in the ears

Dry skin and lips

Eyes dry and sometimes burning

Nasal drip, itching in and on the nose, and sneezing

Dizziness / Vertigo (from standing up, bending over, tipping head sideways and turning head)

Balance problems

Legs and head feel heavy

Restricted movement (shoulders, neck and hips, mostly)

Degraded motor skills

Noticeable swelling in hands, feet, and face, mostly in the morning, but sometimes during the day

Chronic cough

Sleepiness /drowsiness / insomnia

Zoning / spacing out

Nausea - gets worse as pain or pressure goes up / vomiting episodes

Lack of appetite, absorption of nutrients problems

Difficulty swallowing

Increased allergies & sensitivities

No gag reflex bilaterally

Hyper active reflexes

Floating sensation in head

Headaches mostly in the back of head

Pulsing pain in the back left of head while sleeping, was relieved slightly when head was

turned in opposite direction

Arm & shoulder pain and weakness, mostly left side

Jaw pain and fatigue

Groin pain, left side

Blurry vision

Change in personality

Block in emotional feelings

Speech difficulty

Dehydration

Earaches - short lasting

Hiccups

Lump in throat

Pain when changing position

Back and forth eye movement

Teeth hurt - feel like being squeezed or pinched

Passing out - one time so far

I have been to two NS as second opinions, one who knows of Chiari Dr. Swanson at the UofMI and one who is an expert in Chiari Dr Tew at Mayfield Chiari Center, neither said anything about having a lumbar MRI and I forgot to ask either about it.

Emmaline said:

NL's frequently say that, but then again they are not Chiari specialists. Some of us here had the same response from the NL's they saw...including me. A NS is more likely to be a Chiari specialist and will order the tests you need to be diagnosed properly. Maybe you could ask to see a NS for a second opinion. The list you have is straight out of the Chiari book, so I would not take the word of the NL that you have.

Now granted not all of those symptoms happen in one day, but about 3/4 of them do at some time or another throughout the day and are worse with any even the smallest amount of activity or strain, neck movements of any kind, and sometimes even emotionally.

I have been hit really hard with four major crisis/stressors right now - the passing of my dad, my health, my house not selling & going into foreclosure, and the loss of my two jobs - one of which was my life's dream. Now I sit hurting, alone, no income(I am having to fight to try to get unemployment because my employer said I did something I did not do, that was his excuse for firing me because of my health I believe), and because of the Chiari having to learn to adjust to a whole new less active lifestyle. I have always been one who is on the go working constantly, helping others who need it. Sorry, It's been a rough week here and I am starting to vent and get off topic.

Thanks, my dad passed away just over a year ago and it was only 8mos after that, that my symptoms really hit hard and fast. So I really have not been able to deal with dad's passing and even now when I try, the physical pain in my head becomes almost unbareable and nauseating, so I tend to suppress those feelings, which I know is not good, but what else can I do?

is short term disability the same as SSD or SSI? If so, then yes I applied back in Feb. when I was still trying to work one job.

I have been out of work since April 10, 2012

Yes, this is a change of life, major change of life for me, major detour for the rest of life. I like to think that I have come to terms with it, but really have not. It is a daily struggle. I am still trying to find that fine line between doing too much and too little, frustrating and figuring out what pleasure activities are worth the pain of doing it.

Emmaline said:

No worries, that's what we're here for...support.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your father, that on top of all the rest are contributing to your symptoms. This illness is a change of life illness, something we have to deal with everyday. You deserve answers and the treatment that is right for you.

Have you applied for short term disability? You were employed, so you have paid into that system. How long ago did you stop working?