Thanks for the reply, Violet.
My brainstem did not look normal to me either, and this MRI was done lying down. I’m afraid to know what it would look like upright!
I did not have a brain MRI. The neuro didn’t think it was necessary, and all my symptoms were explained by “atypical migraine with aura.” But I want to ask my doctor for a brain MRI- upright if I can get it. I am going to share with her some of the excerpts from Dr. Diana’s book in hopes that she will agree. She’s been pretty open-minded with things, but I think sometimes she feels kinda hopeless on how to help me.
I had simple X rays and they said I had no cranio cervical instability. But I can feel my neck going out of alignment. I was getting PT the last 15 months and I’d feel ok, then I’d stand up, do PT exercises (or not) and I could feel my neck muscles tense up and they were immediately no longer relaxed and went back came the pain. I had the PT check once and she was shocked after 5 minutes of doing exercises that it was as tight as it was when she started. Sigh.
I think I have been focusing too much on neck pain and not considering that it is likely from my head/intracranial hypertension. I got a cold and it seems to be back with a vengeance.
I think I will list all the specific areas that the ordering doctor can have the MRI-reading doctor look for. Maybe if I point them in that direction specifically, I will be less likely to get another “normal” result.
Hope you find some answers soon too. I don’t know what I would do without the internet and wonderful practitioners and patients sharing their stories!