Aa
Question about what counts as an episode
I have not gotten my confirmed MS diagnosis yet, but it is imminent. I had an MRI in 11/2009 that showed 7 lesions. Because I had no other symptoms at the time, they said the white matter disease was just consistent with migraines. Flash forward to today, I have just been diagnosed with optic neuritis and according to the MD, given my positive MRI, I am "backing into the MS diagnosis." I am to see the neuro on Tuesday to have everything confirmed.
But here is my question: My ON started 11 days ago. Three weeks prior to the ON I had 4-5 days of intense burning and aching in my rib just below my breast (an MS hug?). Today I have intermittent numbness in my right hand and forearm. Are all of these symptoms to be considered to be in the same episode, or are they all separate relapses. I am worried about having the Primary Progressive form of MS - hence the question.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Katie
But here is my question: My ON started 11 days ago. Three weeks prior to the ON I had 4-5 days of intense burning and aching in my rib just below my breast (an MS hug?). Today I have intermittent numbness in my right hand and forearm. Are all of these symptoms to be considered to be in the same episode, or are they all separate relapses. I am worried about having the Primary Progressive form of MS - hence the question.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Katie
I agree that this seems to be one MS flare. It's too bad that your doctors were not on top of things 18 months ago, when you could have started one of the MS meds.
If you had no symptoms for all that time, it is highly unlikely that you have PPMS. What you describe sounds like classic RRMS. Good luck with your upcoming neuro appt. and let us know how it turns out.
Welcome to the forum.
ess
If you had no symptoms for all that time, it is highly unlikely that you have PPMS. What you describe sounds like classic RRMS. Good luck with your upcoming neuro appt. and let us know how it turns out.
Welcome to the forum.
ess
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You might want to look at one of Quix's older posts on this:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Multiple-Sclerosis/Relapses--Remissions-and-Biomarkers/show/479765
If you have experienced these symptoms before, either individually or as a whole, my interpretation of what Quix wrote is that this should be considered one relapse, as most people have a baseline of symptoms. I would guess that new symptoms that fit the criteria (lasting more for more than a 24 hour period, though not necessarily continual throughout the 24 hour period) would be considered an indication of further damage to the CNS.
Audrey