MRI Results

Our Dr.called us back yesterday afternoon. Cade was of course at school so that left me taking the call and trying to get all the information.  He started out by saying that there was no tumor or sign of stroke. At that point I was unaware we were worried about that, but at the same time relieved that it wasn't that.  It's not the tethered spinal cord or pedicles (pinched nerve).  What the MRI showed was a string of cells showing up with an abnormal intensity from the anterior of the spine down to the lumbar (from top to bottom) on both the left and right sides.  It was showing a brighter signal where it should have been grey on the MRI.  After speaking with 2 radiologists and 3-5 other Dr.'s (one being a 70 year old Dr., who maybe affiliated with UT Medical) and none of them know what it is exactly.  Moving from here we need to get 2 additional MRI's. One of his spine again this time with contrast and then also one of his brain to see if the string of cells continues into his brain.  The spine MRI will take 1 hr 45 min - 2 1/2 hrs and the brain MRI will take 1 hr so depending how the anesthesiologist feels about Tacen being put under for that long will determine if we have to go in for two separate visits or just one.  We are really impressed with Dr. Fulton. He's been great so far! He told us if Tacen has a relapse he wants to see him. He also asked how long this had been happening and we said about 1 year. He said that because it's been happening so long, that helps rule out a lot of the "bad" things because he would have gotten sick and stayed sick.
Then last night Cade was working on some flash cards and I was getting Daxon ready for bed when my phone rang. When I looked at my phone I thought the number looked similar to the one Dr. Fulton called from earlier that day. It was 7:30pm so I thought it can't be him. I answered it and sure enough it was him.  He wants to know if Tacen had his polio vaccination.  I haven't been able to get that information from our old Dr. yet, but I will soon. He said that his symptoms mirror some of those of polio, but that it doesn't last.  It was nice that he called because Cade was able to talk to him and get the answers to questions he was having answered. Since Cade knows the medical lingo better and knows what to ask better.
There is also a possibility it may be a genetic thing. However, we really won't know much more until the MRI's. They are meeting with other Dr's at Le Bonheur on Thursday to discuss Tacen's case and see if anyone else has seen this. 
So at this point that's what we know. Not a lot unfortunately.  We are extremely thankful that our Dr. is working so hard to help our little Tacen. He told Cade that our son is going to be on his mind until they figure it out.  We are also trying to keep a positive attitude until given a reason to think otherwise.  We'e bummed out that this won't be a quick fix, but we are hoping that we'll get to the bottom of it eventually.