I recently asked an experienced neuroradiologist to review my MRI from 19 May 2012 as I wanted to know if my brainstem lesions were visible on that MRI. I wasn’t sure if I would even get a response. I am so amazed and impressed. I have encountered the extremes in our healthcare system but once in a while the response is more than you could hope for. He was generous and very kind in his willingness to help me out.

In the letter I had written to him:

I am requesting a favour from you . . . I would like to know two things.

• was the lesion in the pons visible on the first MRI?
• was the lesion in the medulla visible?

As these lesions would explain my facial pain and my GI problems, I wanted to fully understand the negligence of neurologist #3.

On Thursday, October 18, I received a response. He reviewed all three of my scans:

In answer to your question, both the lesion(s) on the right side of the pons (there is probably more than one) and the lesion in the medulla were visible on the first MRI, although not as clearly shown as on the MRI at UBC which was performed with a dedicated MRI protocol and somewhat thinner slices.

Your case is unusual although certainly not unheard of, in that you have quite a number of lesions on your brain MRI (many of which appear old) with little in the way of “classical” symptoms and signs.

That tells me a lot. Yes, my MS is old. And yes, my presentation is unusual. Neurologist #3 had everything he needed after that first MRI to diagnose my MS and my pain. Perhaps neuroradiologists should be given the authority to diagnose MS and remove it from the hands of neurologists? I am sure that we would get earlier diagnoses that way. In my case, it would have saved the system a lot of money.

And at least two lesions on the right side of the pons — yikes. No wonder I had so much pain.