You are welcome, Cheryl, and I didn't mean to maliciously contradict what you were saying (I did read your response before I posted). I was just responding based on what I have personally experienced and learned along the way (which happened to contradict your experiences). No offense intended.

I am curious about the particulars about your experiences though (to enhance Franks & my knowledge), but mostly because I am trying to make sense of all this information we have to consider . . .

What symptoms do you have with your attacks; all spinal lesion ones?

Also, that there is no brain enhancement . . . have you been told that your attacks are not related to brain lesion damage/activity of some sort, even if it isn't apparent on a MRI?

The reason I ask is because it is my understanding that lesions will or won't enhance, basically at will, but that that activity (or lack thereof) doesn't necessarily correlate with clinical manifestations of an attack.

For instance, they followed a number of people with very regular MRI's (more often then monthly, but can't remember the exact intervals) and people were still experiencing clinical attacks even though there was no enhancement. And, when there was enhancement, it didn't necessarily mean there was an attack going on.

This is apparent with people who have SPMS too; no "active" lesions, but relapses still occurring, as does progression.

Also, is this the reason you can't do Tysabri ~ because of no apparent inflammation in your brain lesions?

As far as spinal activity/attacks, the way I understand TM is that is it just another word for spinal lesion attack, at least when we already have a MS dx. When we are undx, they call it TM, but when we are dx, it's a spinal lesion attack (but still just TM).

What I am trying to say is that it's kinda' like ON, or ataxia, etc. in that way. If we have ON (or ataxia, etc.) as a stand alone symptom, they call it ON. However, when it's combined with having MS, as the underlying dx, then the ON is just another manifestation of this disease process.

Do you see what I am trying to get at?

Cherie