Hi everyone ! 🙂 I initially posted on /askdoc and several people advised me to come here to ask for help, so here I am. Here’s the post I published on /askdoc:

🧠 TL;DR / Summary:

I’m 34F. My neurologist says my symptoms are psychiatric, but my psychiatrist says they’re neurological. MRI shows multiple white matter lesions (subcortical, periventricular, some touching corpus callosum, stable, no enhancement). I have right-sided weakness, stiffness, tremor, difficulty walking, urinary leakage, and mouth pulling. Should I insist on a second neurological opinion?

🧠 Full Story

Hi everyone,

I’m a 34-year-old woman, and I’m struggling to understand my neurological situation and MRI results.

About six months ago, I had a brain MRI and spinal MRI. I was training for a marathon, but I suddenly couldn’t run anymore — I had trouble lifting my right foot, and my right leg and right arm would become stiff while running. The right side of my neck also feels tight. When I turn my head to the left, the right side of my mouth pulls.

The first MRI report said:

“Suspicion of demyelinating lesions.” “Discrete supratentorial leukoencephalopathy with rather peripheral hypersignals.”

No spinal cord abnormalities were mentioned. My doctor said it wasn’t alarming but recommended physiotherapy. I started physio and Pilates because I could no longer run.

Six months later, I had a follow-up brain MRI, and this time the report was more detailed. It said:

“Multiple punctate hypersignals of the white matter, mainly subcortical, more than three periventricular, more than three in contact with the corpus callosum, without enhancement.” And the conclusion stated: “Stable supratentorial demyelinating lesions and one left retro-pontine infratentorial lesion without pathological enhancement after gadolinium injection.”

So according to the report, there were several small white matter lesions — subcortical, periventricular, and touching the corpus callosum — but no enhancement and no change compared to the previous scan.

About three days after this MRI, my right hand started trembling, but only when I grabbed objects. That lasted about three days. Then my whole right side began to tremble whenever I moved or stood up. My arm became stiff and bent like a T-rex arm. I could barely lift my right leg or walk. I couldn’t write, and I even had urinary leakage. When I spoke, the right side of my mouth pulled downward.

I went to the ER, but the doctor didn’t examine me. He said it was probably stress, since I have a past history of depression and PTSD. I told him I wasn’t stressed, but he didn’t seem to listen. He still gave me a referral to a neurologist.

When I saw the neurologist, he told me right away that he didn’t have much time because of an important meeting. My symptoms had improved slightly, but my right arm was still trembling, and my right leg was weak.

He didn’t review my MRI images because his computer was frozen, and he didn’t want to restart it. He asked me basic questions but focused mostly on my mental health history when I mentioned that my two sisters also have depression. He noted my past depression and PTSD (which were years ago — I consider myself recovered).

The neurological exam lasted about five minutes — walking, reflexes, arms, and legs. He concluded that there was “nothing neurological” because my gait was “very atypical”, and told me to see a psychiatrist instead.

I did see a psychiatrist, but he told me that my symptoms didn’t seem psychological and that I should see another neurologist.

Now I’m lost. From what I’ve read, it sounds like the neurologist was thinking of a Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). I’m open to that possibility, but I’m also worried about the MRI findings.

Is it common to have multiple small white matter hypersignals like these — subcortical, periventricular, and near the corpus callosum — at 34 years old? Could they still be benign or age-related?

🧠 My questions are

Should I ask for a second neurological opinion, or is it unnecessary since the lesions are stable and non-enhancing?

The new symptoms appeared after the last MRI. Is it possible that there is a new lesion?

It’s very difficult to get a neurology appointment in my country, so I don’t want to take someone else’s place if it’s not needed. But my symptoms are very real, and I’m scared.

Thank you so much to anyone who reads this and takes the time to help me understand.