Newly diagnosed

[Ashley_schoff]

Hello,
I had tingling in my legs about a year ago, other than that event, I show no symptoms. I had an MRI that showed 7 lesions. They told me I'm in the early stages of MS. my question is... Isn't seven lesions a lot of its considered "early"?  Does a lot of lesions this quickly mean it is aggressive? I'm worried as I am only 27.

[ConfirmedRachel]

Hi there,
I'm a newbie like you - you have stumbled across one of the best support networks in the world with this group of people!

Having suddenly lost eyesight in R eye in Jan, I had my first brain/orbit MRI - showed multiple lesions in multiple places. Referred to a Neurologist who did a second one 2 weeks later with contrast dye.

New one showed 5 of the 'multiple' were active plus two new ones - heavy steroid plan for following week and confirmed MS on 28th Feb.

My eyesight is nearly back to normal and other symptoms such as tingly fingers, heart palpitations and cognitive issues have all improved (2.5 months later). Cognitive is still a problem and I suspect the older lesions had something to do with that.

It's been a long wait for next Neuro appt to discuss/agree DMDs but this is finally coming round on 19th May.

What I've taken a waffly load of time to say is, I've had 'loads' in 'quiet' parts of my brain and most recently had 7 active - not sure which still are. It only takes one in a dodgy place to get a symptom, otherwise you might never know you had it.


As all the wonderful people who've already commented above have told you, (the same they said to me) we're all unique with this disease.

Try to think of any questions you might have for your Neuro or MS Nurse as it helps the appt if you are able to talk about worries you might have. They can't read minds but most will try to answer what you ask, or tell you there simply isn't an answer.

Lastly, I'm not massively active as a poster on this forum but I do come and read stuff nearly every day. It helps to hear other people having the same questions as me, to know there are some lovely people on here who will answer or just 'listen' and care.

Hope you can find help here too.
N xx

[Artanis12]

When I was diagnosed, I had 2 lesions.  In the time between diagnosis and the baseline MRI I had prior to starting a DMD, I got 2 more lesions that were asymptomatic. Then, 3 weeks after starting the med, I had a relapse and another MRI (seriously, who here could not do as well as the fridge at holding magnets??) and had ANOTHER lesion, right in the spot to impact my walking (which it did).  So now - as far as I know - I have 6, and all developed in a very short time. BUT, I didn't, and hopefully DON'T, yet have any in my spine.  I don't know if that is aggressive, but I'll take it over 50 anywhere, any day.

Karen

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little MS community

The issue with 'possible' is that there are trillions of scenarios that come into play, 7 lesions in one attack 'could' happen but there is really no way of knowing for sure. I don't particularly think only having 'one' attack with 7 detected lesions is highly likely, odds would be that there had been more attacks but only the one about a year ago actually produced any noticeable symptoms.

Keep in mind that not every lesion will cause symptoms, lesion mapping is very very difficult, the location of the lesions is more significant than the number of lesions or how many attacks you've had. Basically your MS is unique to you, different locations within the brain control different functions, so one pwMS could have a truck load of lesions and very minimal disability, and another pwMS could have only a couple and have significant disability, because of their lesion locations.  

Cheers..........JJ    

[bbassel]

I was in. The middle of my responses and hit the wrong button!b Damn hands lol.

Anyway where the lesion is located will determine what symptoms you may have depending on the inflammation. This interrupts our nerve signals.

I hope I got it right. Feel free to correct me please.

Barb

[bbassel]

I am not an expert by any means(have only been diagnosed for two years) bbut my understanding is each lesion more than likely appeared at

[bbassel]

I am not an expert by any means(have only been diagnosed for two years) bbut my understanding is each lesion more than likely appeared at

[Ashley_schoff]

Is it possible that all 7 lesions were caused by a single attack? Or does each lesion represent an attack?

[bbassel]

I had the same question when I was diagnosed. My ms specialist said a lot is 50+. I was shocked because seven or eight brain lesions seemed like a lot to me.

She said it really wasn't so I had to trust her. It does seem like a lot to us but in the ms world not so much.

Try not to worry because it won't help matters.

All the best,
Barb