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Old 06-22-2012, 07:10 AM
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Dejibo Dejibo is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
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15 yr Member
Dejibo Dejibo is offline
Elder
Dejibo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 7,332
15 yr Member
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To answer your question YES! you can have lesions only in your spine. Lesions only in your head. Altho if you have both together, its a lock on the MS diagnosis. Did they use Dye when they did your MRI? it wont ruin the results if they didnt, but dye causes active lesions to "light up" on the film. If you have no lesions show up on film, then they wouldnt light up anyway.

Also be mindful that some MRIs are more powerful than others. Open MRIs tend to be about 1 Telsa strength or less. Regular closed MRIs tend to be 1.5 and you can find some 2.0s. We have moved into some 3 Telsa machines, and most hospitals use them side by side with thier old 1.5 machines and its a gamble which machine you get. the higher the # the more sensitive the machine. When I was first tested they used an open MRI that showed nothing. the 1.5 showed 10 plus lesions.

How can you be diagnosed without lesions. its tricky but it can happen. They base it on symptoms (sx) after ruling out all the other junk. You must have 2 clearly marked attacks at least 6 months apart. Optic neuritis is a hallmark sign that MS is on the table. PLEASE seek an eye md if you have blind periods.

Many folks stay on limbo island for years and sometimes decades till the MD proves or disproves MS. Some are now being given treatment as "pre MS" or "silent MS" and the MD is simply waiting for the disease to unfold.

word of caution. PLEASE know that the second someone puts MS or suspected MS down on a medical piece of paper...you will not qualify for life insurance, health insurance, and several other things. PLEASE take this quiet time to apply for and be accepted to as many things as you can. Long term disability insurance is great if you can get it while you are healthy. After MS they will simply say..um...NO! go away. Even tho you are feeling sick, and confused take this time to get your paperwork in order. once you receive those words stamped on your file...its almost impossible to find someone to insure you. even if they remove the words later.
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