White Matter Lesions and Migraine Disease

Episode 77: Have you been told you have white matter lesions on your MRI findings?
What does it mean? How many of us have this finding? Should we be concerned? Dr. Lindsay Weitzel talks with Dr. Vince Martin about what these lesions we see on our MRI reports mean.

#headache #migraine #podcast #wellness

Follow the National Headache Foundation's podcast HeadWise, as host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, has informative discussions with headache experts on the latest treatment, research, lifestyle recommendations, and personal stories about living with migraine disease and headache disorders. HeadWise can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Real_Life_Is_More_Important]

It would have been nice for him to acknowledge patients who experience migraine and also have symptoms of ms and/or lupus AND WML.... are they more clinically significant then?

[lionesstamigaither]

I've had headaches since childhood & was diagnosed in my mid 20's with vascular/stress migraine "dis-order". (1985 ish terminology.) In 2020 had a brain mri which showed white matter legions suggestive of demylenation - yet was told my mri was normal. I've never had an issue with high or low blood pressure. Now I'm in mid 60's & have developed almost every symptom of MS. Having all kinds of neurological issues & some pretty weird pains to top off the Fibromyalgia I was diagnosed with 10 years ago. So my PCP sent me to a neurologist who has ordered a brain scan. I am not confident that this doctor in this video gives much weight to the issue being discussed or that he is giving the seriousness due - white matter lesions are damaged scarring of the brain which is very serious leading to disabilities depending on where the lesions are located.

[jamiejame]

Thank you so much for this! This video has comforted me unlike others that scared me.

[fegrace_]

Thank you for sharing this. I am so glad to have found this video. I had hope but after watching this video my hope level increased. I wished I lived in his areas so I could see him. I will be watching the rest of the videos on this channel!

[ThriftingwithJem]

I had a history of migraines. Due to a sudden blurred vision, wetting myself, numbness, tingling, struggling to walk, and left leg slightly paralysed, I was sent for an mri. Both technicen and cardio specialist saw what they said 2 embolisms had gone off on two sides of my brain. My neuro says no, you didn't and says I'll treat your migraines. She then saw me walk and said, "Your brain isn't telling your legs to move. She sent me away and said I'll see you in 4 months." I'm still struggling to walk and have other issues. I won't be going back. Ischemic aetiology was written on the mri as likely cause. My cardiologist saw and read the scans, she is investigating with heart tests. I'm on low dose aspirin. My legs at night have horrendous pain. All this has caused confusion, anger, upset, anxiety, and depression.

[mcg]

I was diagnosed with these lesions 7 years ago and the cognitive decline and severe brain fog/forgetfulness started 3 years ago. Recent MRI showed some growths and new lesion emerged.

[jenshere]

So I have had migraines with aura for most of my life and was never offered an MRI, just prescription meds. When my migraines started getting more severe and more frequent I was sent for an MRI. The results showed moderate to severe white matter disease. The radiologist wrote in the notes to rule out Cadasil. My neurologist never heard of this before and wanted to check me for MS instead. I insisted on the DNA test for Cadasil and sure enough it came back positive.
I am in that .5% you spoke of that the white matter on an MRI IS serious. Cadasil is hereditary and half of my family members died from it before they could be diagnosed because Drs. blew off their symptoms or treated them with the wrong meds that accelerated their deaths.
You are correct with most migraine sufferers…. the lesions from migraines on an MRI are minor. But when the lesions on the MRI show up for more serious diseases, they usually are pretty blatant and don’t look like just migraine lesions.
PS… Cadasil lesions all over the brain cause early vascular dementia, which I was diagnosed with.

[kimberlee]

Mine were found in 2012 and my migraine doctor said no worries. My spine doctor said I likely had MS. The first doctor was right.

[meandcadasil]

Good video. And let’s not forget that some rare genetic disorders that can cause migraines, such as CADASIL. In severe variants (as I have), there is a high WMH load in parts of the brain that cause troublesome damage. I had severe, extremely painful hemiplegic migraines several times a year for 23 years, many of which lasted for two weeks. So, so glad I don’t get them any more.

[alizaali]

Thank you for clarifying that white matter lesions does not necessarily mean that there is an increased likelihood of dementia. Aldo helped me to understand the possible causes of white matter lesions and migraines.

[rosana]

THANK YOU for this video. I just had my MRI read and showed white matter. I was so scared.

[GoManGoOutside-heho]

Thank you for this video! Gives me peace of mind. I know this video is almost 5 years old so I hope the info is still accurate.

[JleeA]

Thank you for asking so many great questions.
I have an aneurysm that gets checked by MRA and MRI with and w/o contrast.
This is the first time my results have come back with white matter; 6 spots to be exact. I have orthostatic hypotension. I frequently become numb, dizzy, and faint upon standing. Migraines since 2012. Auras with visual disturbances and memory loss issues. My aneurysm, thankfully has not grown.

[jingwills]

Love this doctor, he makes everyone feeling still positive. Thank you!

[ThriftingwithJem]

I'm so relieved dementia isn't increased. I was sent spiralling into fear and deep depression.

[heathermae]

My nerologist read my MRI and saw all these white spots and told me I have Vascular Dementia! I have had very severe migraine (30 years) with Aura since my car accident. He wouldn't accept that it had ANYTHING to do with my severe migraines because its VERY rare. Therefore he dismissed my concerns

[kenelliott]

Great information! Thank you so much for doing this video it's very informative very helpful and answers a lot of good questions thank you!

[danielltannehill]

What about the incidents of ice pick headaches (3 to 4 stabbing blows lasting about 5 seconds total) on the same side of the lesions?

[jrbowdree]

Thank you for the information that was so reassuring.

[Brooklynlife]

Incredibly informative and we'll delivered on each important aspect.