Lesions Disappearing

[Deb61]

I've seen this question posted before and have wondered this myself as to whether or not lesions disappear.  I thought this would be a good time to share my experience.  

I just got my MRI results back, and most of the lesions have disappeared.  I was diagnosed February 2008.  I had lesions around the corpus callosum, cerebellum, frontal lobe, and smaller ones scattered in the other parts of my brain.  The bigger one in the frontal lobe is the only one that is left.  The others have gone bye-bye (at least they aren't seen).  This would account for the improvement in my symptoms since starting Copaxone in March 2008.  So, from first-hand experience, I can tell you that it does look like lesions can diseappear or get so small as to not be seen on the MRI.  

I do want to add the symptoms haven't gone bye-bye (I wish they would), but I have improved significantly.  I can walk without a lot of difficulty, which is a far cry from where I was over a year ago!   Most symptoms come back when I'm really tired or hot.  I can barely see when I'm too warm, and will trip and fall over my right foot.  I only get tremors when I'm stressed out or tired, and I drop things from time to time.  I guess the worst thing I've had is the stabbing head pain, but I haven't had problems with that in a week.

Hopefully, this information may be useful for someone.  MS is pretty unpredictable.  If you were to ask me if I was going to be in a wheelchair before treatment, I'd tell you I would.  I feel very fortunate that I've gotten the right treatment.  

Best wishes for others suffering from the disease,
Deb

[SarahL2491]

hang on to those copies of your MRIs showing the lesions!  I have one that has disappeared and if they do repair, then what shall we do (remembering that unfortunately it seems the symptoms stay) when new idiot neuro's look at new MRIs and exclaim, "oh no MS, so sorry".......

thank goodness I have a good neuro!

[maxthecat43]

Thank you for posting this information.  I have always wondered...  

Tammy

[DiggerDave]

I was first experiencing symptoms of MS 22 years ago; it took about a year for the first liaison to show up and about another year for the second liaison to finally show up from an MRI.  Before the lesions should up the fussed a disc at C-5 C-6 because they thought although they were not convinced it was significant.  This month because I was experiencing some other unusual symptoms they performed a brain and spine MRI and they just told me I no longer have any liaisons and made the statement I do not have MS.  Funny I still have all the symptoms during hot cold and stress.  So yes apparently they can disappear.  But then again I was praying to the Lord for something special would show up and be a mystery to them,  I will pray that all the symptoms will now disappear.  Then there will be a true cure for MS that science just can't understand and that is Jesus heals.

[Deb61]

Alex,

I have no idea how long I've had MS because I've been in limbo for years.  I saw the wrong specialists--rheumatologists.  It's hard to say when the neurological symptoms started, but I think they started years ago.

Shel,

Sure!  Let's start a count.  If others have had lesions disappear from their MRI, post it here!

[sllowe]

WOW Deb!!!!!! This is fantastic news! Here is the HP

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple%20Sclerosis/Lesions---Can-they-Disappear-A-Hypothetical-Case-Overview/show/566?cid=36

Now if only those symptoms would disappear too.

So, I think we are up to 3 members (including Sarahsmom) with some disappearing lesions - can we use this discussion to count?

[HVAC]

My MS Specialist said my lesion on the Brain stem disappeared. He said it is not uncommon at the beginning of the disease for the myelin to repair itself.

Alex