Lifespan of a Lesion

[Sidesteps]

I pulled up some literature regarding the lifespan of a lesion. Most of what I read is the lesion will become bright while active then become more subtle even blending into the surroundings, dissipating over a period of time .

The reason I ask is I had an MRI in December where a hazy spot shows. It's not blaringly bright but it definitely looks like a perventricular lesion. I had another MRI in June and the spot is still there. It is about the same brightness but the "lesion" seems to have more defined edges. ("Lesion" in quotes because the radiologist did not mention this spot in either report.)

My questions are --- Does anyone know what the typical lifespan is of a lesion? Does that mean I still could be in an active flare?

[drsdonthelp]

I am glad you brought this up. I have always wondered myself about the whole lesions that disappear thing, and because of my ongoing neurological  symptoms and abnormal neuro exams  but clear MRI's, could I have had something show eariler on and now have healed?

Is seems that almost every doc. that I have seen, LOOK FOR THE LESIONS, and if nothing shows they say "it's not MS" instead of saying it could be MS because of your signs and symptoms and everything else has been ruled out.

Pam

[Sidesteps]

Bob, I am not surprised the damage starts long before the lesion actually shows. I was going to go back to my posts when I was recently widowed, during that first year.

I remember asking in my widow group about physical symptoms. I remember the debilitating muscle weakness and fatigue. I couldn't stand for longer than 5 minutes and I could have slept 24 hours a day but I was stressed I couldn't sleep more than 3 hours a day. I am beginning to wonder if I was actually in a flare now and chalked it all up to stress. I had some weird things happen during that time.

Lulu, I believe the same and I think the body can have an amazing ability to heal itself. I really do. My theory is that is why so many suffer from the debilitating fatigue. Our bodies are trying to heal.

Thank you both.

[Lulu54]

We have a great health page on the subject of disappearing lesions.........

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

The body continually tries to heal itself when we have an injury.  Think of the scabbing when we get a wound.  I like to think the body is doing the same thing in our brain, trying to repair the damaged areas, attempting to recoat the nerves with myelin.

as for the lifespan, I;m sure there is no know number that can be given but thisis a great question.

be well, Lulu

[COBOB]

That is an often repeated statement about demyelinating lesions.  There are some other studies that indicate subtle changes are happening that interfere with magnetization transfer in the myelin up to two years before the lesion is visible on T2 or FLAIR sequences.  

Current research is indicating that the damage starts long before the lesion.

Bob