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I thought only new lesions cause damage

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Multiple Sclerosis
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Posted 12/11/2013 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
I thought when the Neurologist said the lesions that I have c/b from 20 years ago it meant that since they were old

they had already done their damage. But now you all say that is not true. So why do they differentiate old and new and

if they both are damaging then why the distinction? And why do the old ones all of a sudden become more active, if

they had been quiet for some time. Or maybe some of the symptoms I had over the years were because of those?

Do they ever disappear?          

Thanks for your answers!

Posted 12/13/2013 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure I can answer this. I don't know why some doctors don't seem to worry about old lesions. Perhaps the lesions aren't causing symptoms. Some small lesions, while they are evidence of brain damage, the brain can sometimes re-wire or re-route signals.

For MSers, doctors like to know if a patient is in an active flare. A flare may respond to acute treatment options.

For me, I had just a few lesions upon diagnosis. As time passes, I've gained more lesions. Indeed MS is progressive. My lesions have never gone away. Some have shrunk in size. Some have re-flared and become larger.

I may have already told you this. Sorry if I'm repeating myself. Lesions that show up on an MRI only indicate a spot of damaged brain or nerve tissue. The MRI doesn't indicate what caused that damage. Many diseases and disorders cause demyelination. MS is like a last resort diagnosis.
Posted 12/13/2013 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
The lesions that I have are old. But just yesterday I had a Neck MRI so I think the doctor m/b checking if

anything else is going to show up. If not then he will check again in 3-6 months. He says he still is

thinking the damage was caused by SLE and he says he doesn't want to muddy the waters with other

ideas for now. (??) I also have had many years of migraines so that c/b another cause. I really thought it

would be easier for the doctor to tell me what is going on! Thanks for your input...
Posted 12/13/2013 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Just to clarify my previous post, the MRI I had awhile ago was of my Brain only. So now my Neurologist has ordered

 an MRI of my neck--Cervical? So that's where I am now...

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