Does early medication treatment mean reduced disability?

  I am 23 years old, was just diagnosed with MS two months ago, and have had only two mild attacks in two years, consisting of numbness, tingling, and slight vision problems.  The attacks were completely manageable with the help of drugs, but were the only problems I have had.  I have no fatigue, or disability whatsoever.  I just started Copaxone last week.
  My question is:  Since my MS was caught right away, and I am quite young and taking medication early, does that mean my chances of disability are greatly reduced?  I have noticed many people over the age of 40 in wheelchairs, and was wondering if that was just because good medication wasn't around then.  
  Please help!!  
Dear Kristen:
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis of MS.  There is a wide range of disabilities that occur with MS.  Some people with MS have severe disability that is rapid in its onset while other have only mild symptoms and progress episodically and slowly.  It is very difficult to predict which part of the spectrum that a single MS patient will fall into.  Some of it depends on where the lesions are in the brain.  Some of the lestions are in area of the brain that seem to have little clinically expression while other have distinct clinical manifestations.  What is thought about these lesions, is that in most, but not all, patients will have progression of lesions.  If the progression of lesions in inhibited by mdication (capoxone, betaseron, avenox) then the disease process will be slowed.  The early data suggest that this in fact may be the case.  So, to be proactive or on preventative medication is likely going to be best.  So, the earlier the better.  The long term story is not known yet.  I would agree with your
physician and start you sooner than later on a medication.  I hope that he follows you by MRI to see how effective capaxone is working and if not, then switching your medication to one of the interferons.  Like previously stated, it is impossible to predict outcome.  Just know that you are on the right tract in preventing, as best as we know how to, the progression of disease.  Best of luck.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS