My brain scans are normal. No damage shows. Why?
Thatās great news! I suggest you do a search for Gluten Ataxia. Donāt know if thatās the case. But itās worth looking at. You could try doing a gluten free diet.
Thanks! Iāll check that out. My primary says it could be idiosynchratic.
Iāve seen several posts from people who say they have a diagnosis of Cerebellar Ataxia, and yet no Cerebellar Atrophy is visible.
I have mild Atrophy, and a diagnosis of Idiopathic Cerebellar Ataxia, with most general ataxia symptomsā¦but primarily eye problems and poor balance.
My first series of tests was in 2011, and inconclusive. Now, my Neurologist suggests renewed testing because there have several discoveries since then.
It is important to be tested, some Ataxias are caused by deficiencies and intervention at an early stage can make a big difference.
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I too have Ataxia and my MRI taken several years ago showed only mild age related (I was 70 at the time) atrophy. Nevertheless I had sufficient ataxic symptoms to confirm my diagnosis -typical ataxic gate,
loss of balance, sporadic and non-predictive right hand tremble, frequent urination, and poor response to foot and ankle stimulus-.
I walk several km. every day with the aid of a rollator and lift weights every other day; progression has been very slow however I donāt know if exercise has affected my ataxia in any way but it certainly hasnāt hurt and helps to maintain my overall health. I also eat a typical mediterranean diet with the exception of meat and have done so for most of my life.
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Like Athlete my MRI showed a mild age related Atrophy. After doing a comparison of my sisters blood sample all the āexpertsā agreed that I have Niemann-Pick 1 (NPC1).
I usually count steps rather than kms, to me it sounds more impressive 
Recently I was able to enjoy a run of active daysā¦most unusual for me, and psychologically I felt a real boost to morale Iām all too aware being inactive can ease the situationā¦but it makes it so much harder to get going againā¦
My ādietā isnāt as bad as it used to beā¦Iām much more aware of what I choose to eatā¦and try to maintain a reasonable balance between nutrition and treats
Unfortunately I donāt see a neurologist at this time. The nursing home and my Dr. have written me off I had extensive testing years ago. My ataxia is quite severe. Iāve never had a diagnosis other than (neurdegenerative). I had to diagnosis the ataxia on my own and donāt know which kind. Itās unbelievable what I went through. The second neurologist I saw said to me the first time she saw me was āWhy are you in that wheelchair?ā. HELLO? Then she said āā Stand up!". I did and almost took both of us down. Itās a challenge. I still donāt have a diiagnosis. The Mayo Clinic turned me down . . .Twice!
'āStand upā?? Thatās a messed up request from a supposed doctor.
Sometimes the scans are always āwithin normal limitsā but are not necessarily normal for YOU. Sometimes the damage isnāt visible until you are dead. No neurologist with any sense would consider visible degeneration on an MRI the primary diagnostic criteria. And there are lots of different kinds of ataxia. Some genetic, some acquired, some diet- or environment- related.
My guess is that you have a goofball dr. who is thrown off by something in your records, history, or presentation that is not fitting in with their expectations for an ataxic disorder.
You should try to start fresh with an open minded dr.