Welcome Emykins,
I'm so glad you found us here and that you are doing some research for your girlfriend.
You have learned so very much alreay it seems. Yes, the studies do show that treating CIS reduces the risk of definite MS. Here is a link for you where we discussed the most recent study relating to ON and MS. I think you will find this very informative.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS-RISK-AFTER-OPTIC-NEURITIS/show/664930
Also, some Drs take a "wait and see" approach. So, no it's not uncommon, but the data does not support this approach. Sounds to me that the Dr. knew what he or she was looking at - but just needs a nudge to prescribe treatment with a DMD. At 24 - she's young, and may not ever have another attack or progression - you just never know.
How is she feeling now? She symptomatic? Did they treat her with steroids at any point? Oh, and a big YES to stress and aggrevation and symptoms. My 1st attack was during a high stress, busy time. Though it was my typical means of operating and I've always loved to work this way - the attack stopped me dead in my tracks.
HOpe to see you around - I think you will like it here.
Thanks for joining us!
Welcome to our neighborhood, Emykins.
I'm undiagnosed myself, and my medical knowledge is largely all by osmosis, but here's what I've learned. CIS could indeed be thought of as pre-MS. In order to call it "MS, you have to have multiple symptoms (for instance, ON or some bladder issues) and you have to have multiple occurrences (such as in February and later this year, or at some time in the past if it can be documented that there was a previous occurrence of MS-like symptoms). See the Health Page on the McDonald Criteria (Health Pages are accessed through the link to the upper right of this page).
(Quix, did I get that part right?)
From my limited viewpoint, I'd say only recently has it been "officially" pronounced that disease-modifying drugs (we call them DMDs around here) should be started as soon as possible in cases of CIS, where MS sounds very likely but has yet to be confirmed. Perhaps the local neurologist isn't aware of this, and perhaps he has some other reason for not starting such treatment in your girlfriend's case.
As for cold weather bringing on flare ups, I understand that it can, but that hot weather is more likely to cause problems than cold. Somewhere else in those health pages, it probably talks about heat sensitivity issues.
Still remembering that I am undiagnosed, all I can say is that my work-related stress aggravates all sorts of things, but I've not noticed an absolute one-to-one type connection between work stress (I have multiple jobs, wearing multiple "hats"), and any particular symptom(s).
I hope and pray that your girlfriend suffers no more symptoms, but if so, you can be sure that this forum is a haven of caring, supportive, and usually informed people, who are happy to help however we're able.
I just bumped the post I did last week on Copaxone and the approval for its use in CIS - you may want to follow the link and print this for the doctor.
My best,
Lulu
It would be good to have this info for the Drs .
Also want add on a bit, that all the CRAB meds are available to treat CIS. It's just not all Drs take this approach.
As soon as I get a chance, I'll pop in some links to the specif info....