Larrymontana is correct, "There is NO DOCUMENTED relationship between size and location of lesions and disability."

I have many lesions showing up on my MRIs in my brain and one "suspicious" lesion on my spinal cord. The spinal cord lesion is what prompted them to do the MRI of my brain. I have no symptoms that involve my lower extremities at all. My issues are with balance, vision and my upper extremities. So far, none of my issues are debilitating and I will do my best to keep it that way. I am taking one of the CRABS, but am working with another doctor, in another town to get started with LDN, because what I have read about it is very promising. However, not promising enough for my neurologist's comfort.

I agree with Larrymontana's statement, "Doctors would love it if they could identify the extent of your disability from an MRI." This nurse would love that, too. It sure would make treatment and prognosis a whole lot easier to figure out for myself and others.

Please try to stay as positive as you possibly can. Take care of yourself in the way you know how and with the advice of those you trust to advise you. I do realize that is much easier said than done, but it is very possible. There are many people here on this site that will be there when you want and/or need!

Taking one of the CRAB drugs should reduce future damage, (progression), but they don't usually help with the symptoms. Sometimes the CRAB drugs help set the body in motion for healing, and it is possible for symptoms to decrease. I have had slight improvement with a few of mine, but that could very well be a part of the relapsing and remitting process. No one really knows for sure. Once I get started with LDN, I'll try to share how it goes, but LarryLDN and Larrymontana both already have first hand information. LarryLDN has years of journals that share excellent information for anyone wanting to read it.

There is much known and little known about MS. Until the scientific world discovers something they deem provable and beneficial through their methods, we all have to go through "trial and error," with or without them. It is not an easy road, but it can be navigated. I have found DS to be a wonderful source of support and information. Just be careful and as safe as possible with the trial and error you choose.

Take care and good luck with whatever you choose to do to help yourself. Dont forget we are all here!

Rebecca

Keep in mind that although there is now always a correlation between lesion location and disability, there is evidence that axonal and/or brain damage CAN correlate with disability. It is never a clear cut either way. But if you have brain damage below the surface, such as black holes, there is many times a correlation:

http://members.tripod.com/~ThJuland/axon-disability.html

Since we don;t have any hard evidence of exact correlations, we have to go on common sense much of the time.

If you have a relapse that included a lesion in a specific area and have lost functions where that are of the brain controls, than its hard to deny any correlation at all.

I do think that it is more common when there is actual axon loss, and or the brain cells are dead. Hope that made sense!

I should add that there has been shown some correlation between spinal cord lesions and disability, many studies on that. Also with brain lesion location and cognitive issues...

Thanks, Jacca. That makes very good sense!

No problem, thanks :)

I made some major spelling errors though and wish I could edit! LOL

I'm not sure and main reason is that dispite or non-intuitive it seems, there is no medical support for there being a relationship between location and size of lesions and disability.

I would be happy to be corrected (with some Journal citation). Fact is that you could have one smal barely noticable lesion and be severly disabled or have a brain that looks like a Christmas tree and be in great shape.

Yes I've heard that some Docs believe lesions on your spine are responsible for motor difficulties but mine are in my brain and throw off my balance. And even given that I don't believe there is any published study that draws a corresspondence between location and or size of lesions and disability.

Noone is disagreeing with you that lesion load has not been proven to always correlate with disability. What I was trying to get across is that I would not rule out anything rgarding MS.

Much of what we as patients believe is based on common sense, so I wouldn't only rely on medical journal, as because just as something hasn't beenfully proven, much has also not been DISproven completely either - we are all still learning.

I do believe that lesions certainly CAN correlate, as I said before.

I will never believe that brain damage would not affect our abilities...

its ironic that most drugs in clinical trial don't stand a chance of making it to market if they don't reduce the number of new lesions vs placebo. Yet it's understood that there is a great deal more to MS disease pathology than the number and size of the lesions

Exactly Star, good point! For one thing, we have the faulty immune system that in progressive patients, is working overtime causing alot of our sx's, and withOUT causing lesions for many of us.

Hi--I've had MS 36 years and have experienced many symptoms. The leg pain at night is usually from muscle spasms and it feels good to have either you or your partner just take their leg and run theirs up and down your individual legs, one at a time. You might also try muscle rubs such as Icy Hot or such. there are many!

For various pains we get, do not discount the over-the-counter patches they have everywhere now. The menthol is quite effective in masking the one pain that is worse.

I use ice to help some things and less frequently, heat. Aleve has been a big help to me--especially taken three time a day. I try and stay positive by helping others. Good luck! Jane in Indiana

you can have a ery bad flare with microscopic lesions--


you can have minor flare with many lesions

sometimes i wonder--whats the use of a mri-

but guess they are necessary--i am in a bad flare since nov--my recent mri showed no active lesions

but guess what did show up? A STROKE! oh my! problems problems PROBLEMS!

Is your neuro a MS specialist or general neuro or not even a neuro?
Get a second opinion.

Until 24 months ago, my husband only had one brain lesion; now he has two. The lesions he does have has caused his brain to be 70% atrophied, so he has no use of anything below his neck at this point. Had another episode two weeks ago today that turned his beautiful black hair almost completely white overnight. Doesn't remember a thing that happened that day. So, yes lesions in the brain only can cause many things. One of the things we have learned from all of this is that as many doctors as you see, that is how many DIFFERENT opinions you are going to get on the very same question.

my doctor sends me for mri's but does not tell me what they found