Do fatigue and white matter lesions at 22 suggest MS?

Question

Hi doctor,

I’m 22 years old and have been feeling a tiredness like no other for the last 8 months. I sleep for about nine hours every night but wake up feeling like I haven’t slept at all.

I also had an episode 4 months ago where my left leg was feeling numb and heavy for about 10 days but it went back to normal on its own. I have recently read about multiple sclerosis (MS), and many of the symptoms are true to my experience, but my GP originally said my symptoms were due to stress.

I had an MRI, and the report said "a few small periventricular white matter lesions," and the radiologist said they could be nonspecific. My question is: can fatigue in a person in their early 20s be an early sign of MS at 22 and should those MRI findings be taken more seriously?

I also have a vitamin D level of 18 ng/mL, which I know is linked to an increased risk of MS. Is it too early to tell or should I go to a neurologist ASAP? I’m very afraid of what this might mean for my future.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for reaching out, and I appreciate your concern.

Thank you for your patience and I know that you are feeling uncomfortable about your situation. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one possibility, but you are only experiencing fatigue and a one-time episode of numbness for now, so it’s not confirmed.

These symptoms may be present in many other conditions as well. Regarding your MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) results, the small white matter lesions are nonspecific; they are present in normal people or in minor conditions and do not prove MS.

What matters in your case is that you have had only one neurologic event so far and the MRI findings are not clearly suggestive of MS. Your low vitamin D level of 18 ng/mL is also worth mentioning as it is common and not necessarily indicative of MS.

I would recommend you make an appointment with a neurologist. Not urgently, though. They can look at your MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in detail, repeat it if necessary, and help rule out other causes of your symptoms.

But there are warning signs that deserve urgent attention, like new weakness, vision changes, or trouble walking. Overall, your symptoms and MRI findings are not diagnostic for MS, so no need to panic, but smart next step to follow-up with a neurologist.

Hope this advice is helpful for you.

Follow up whenever necessary.

Thanks.