Unremarkable brain scans...what does this mean?

borderlyme

Veteran Member

Joined : Jul 2011

Posts : 1486

Posted 9/11/2011 4:31 PM (GMT -5)

I've had Lyme for over 10 years. Just had an MRI and SPECT done and my brain is fine. I have so many neurological symptoms...the worst short term memory, forgetfulness, terrible spatial reasoning skills (I walk into walls A LOT), plus so much nerve pain and tingling and basically lots of stuff I'd consider as "brain symptoms".

I'm trying to understand this...if there's nothing visibly wrong with my brain does that mean the Lyme isn't causing these symptOms? Can you have neurological problems without inflammation in the brain? Any info would be greatly appreciated as I need an answer for why I'm so out of it that I managed to forget where the driver side door is on the car I can only drive 5 minutes in.....

Traveler

Elite Member

Joined : May 2007

Posts : 36573

Posted 9/12/2011 1:55 PM (GMT -5)

You can have some brain symptoms, without having a brain infection. Lyme and other tick-borne infections can cause some brain swelling and even swelling in the membrane that wraps around the brain, not to mention all of the stuff it does to our nerves.

I have had Lyme for the majority of my life and have only a couple of small white spots (they say they are normal for my age) in my brain, and I have had all of the symptoms of having a brain infection from Lyme.

This by itself in no way means that you don't have Lyme.

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