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Maddie

I don't want to add to your anxiety but I had similar symptoms to yours including the urinary urge incontinence (no hesitancy or retention though) and visual disturbances I too had MS in mind as my diagnosis. As you may recall, a frontal lobe tumour was detected on brain MRI, my cervical disc replacement surgery was put on hold and the tumour surgially removed. However, after the neurosurgery the symptoms persisted although the cognitive problems were slightly better but the unsteadiness, vertigo and tinnitus persisted and morning headaches were added to my long list of symptoms. Following the cervical disc replacement I still get morning headaches but many of the the other symptoms have improved, I very occassionally have tinnitus and mild vertigo but nothing like pre-op. The urinary issues are still present but the general consensus from the neuro, gynae and urology specialists I've seen is it is lumbar spine related.

I'm trying to reassure you that your symptoms could probably be spine related, others with spine problems do have similar. I am convinced my vertigo was a result of my cervical spine issues and my ENT surgeon and also my audiological physician agree with me.

Is there any way you could self fund for the mri rather than wait....I have done that in the past as there are long waits for certain investigations in the UK too, but I appreciate they don't come cheap, however you will only have peace of mind once MS is excluded from your diagnosis. Can you not bring your appointment forward and have you discussed your thoughts about MS with your GP who may order the brain mri? I know little about the Canadisn Healthcare but it's so frustrating when we have to wait.

How is your appeal for the surgeries going, is it any nearer? I'm sorry you are going through all of this and wish you luck with the appeal and look forward to one day reading your post-op outcomes, hopefully in the not-too-distant future .

Very best wishes

Lynda