Will lesions show up on a lumber MRI and do they mean anything?

Here is My Question:
I have lesions on my brain, they were found 5 years ago. Not diagnosed. I was at the neurologist because of bad stenosis in my neck and trying to treat the symptoms which is shoulder, arm and back pain. Back pain since 1988. Now my legs are extremely weak and heavy by days end and do tingle when I get into bed. My lesions have not changed, so does this mean it is not MS? Are the lesions there just by chance? I am having an MRI done on my lumbar next week, not sure why he is not doing the entire spine when my legs are heavy and weak and also the fact that 8 years ago after giving birth my body was in pain for 10 months and even had to scoot down the stairs each day. Two questions please. 1. Will lesions show on a lumbar MRI? 2. Can the lesions mean nothing? 


Answer:
MRI scans do not show “Lesions”.  The word, “lesion” is more appropriately used to refer to the visible pathological or microscopic appearance of tissue in the brain or elsewhere. 

MRI scans do show "T2 hyperintensities", which are white appearing spots observed on certain imaging sequences. T2 hyperintensities may mean nothing or may mean a person has multiple sclerosis or some other disorder. Determining the significance of white spots on an MRI depends on the history and examination findings as well as the specific appearance of the white spots.

These white spots on MRI can be seen anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. An MRI of the lumbar spine will only look at the very lowest part of the spinal cord and is not the best way to look for MS in the spinal cord.

Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Clinical Neurosciences Director
University of California San Diego