Saw my new Neuro today

[ozjohn]

Hi all (to all my support people and other sympathisers)

Well not much to report
My brain and spinal MRI scans were clear, he did not see sny black holes or brain atrophy.
He did admit that I may not get any worse but would probably not get any better.
He prescribed Baclofen which may help the spasticityy in my legs. I advised him that I was on this drug a few
years ago and it did nothing, so he advised to use a larger dose and to keep in touch
I am sorry to say I am still in Limboland and disppointed
He thinks that it may be a type of ADEM rather than M.S.
Should I be cheering?

John

[ozjohn]

Hi

my next appointment is in 4 months
He wants to see if my symptoms stabilise or worsen and what effect the Baclofen has on me
Hope to keep you all updated

[Lulu54]

John,
I think what the doctor told you is a mixed bag .... You have no diagnosis  but are you progressing in your symptoms or are they remaining the same?  I went looking for something to help me with understand the prognosis with ADEM and this is what I found, which still doesn't tell us much.

From the NIH website at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/acute_encephalomyelitis/acute_encephalomyelitis.htm

"Corticosteroid therapy can shorten the duration of neurological symptoms and halt further progression of the disease in the short term, but the long term prognosis for individuals with ADEM varies.  For most, recovery begins within days, and half will recover completely.  Others may have mild to moderate lifelong impairment.  Severe cases of ADEM can be fatal.   Some individuals who initially diagnosed as having ADEM will later be reclassified as MS, but there is currently no method to determine whom those individuals will be.  "

be well,
Lulu

[Deb61]

ADEM will not progress, which is a good thing; however, it's not fun to get news that you won't get any better.  He still hasn't given you a firm diagnosis, so I wouldn't be cheering just yet.  Why does he think it's ADEM?

When's your next appointment?  

Deb