[Mcsisters]

I just had my 6 month with my Neuro and I've been doing great. Thanks to Ampyra I've even shed the cane. My insurance has $7k family deductible and my kids need things like glasses, braces, and a family vacation sure would be nice to have since it has been a few years. I asked him if I'm still doing great at the one year can we put it off to the next. He agreed since I've been on interferon now for 3 years and last 2 MRIs showed no progression. Anyone have any thoughts? Would you forgo it if you are feeling good?

[SallyC]

Short answer...YEP! If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it..

[Erin524]

I haven't had an MRI since....2012 (or was it 2011?) and that wasn't for an MS thing. They were looking at my back, but not for an MS thing. Before that, my last MRI's were in 2006.

I'm claustrophobic. They have to do some serious convincing to get me to crawl into another MRI machine willingly.

We already know I have MS, and my neuro is old enough to know where I probably have a lesion based on a specific symptom. He doesn't really need an MRI to confirm it. Which is a good thing, because my insurance has been really bad for the past year or so. (astronomically high deductibles). Thankfully, I'm changing my insurance monday. If a doctor insists on an MRI, and pretty much holds me at gunpoint to make me lay still long enough for one. I probably won't end up paying as much for it.

[Lynn]

I've been having two MRI's a year for six years now (since I have been on Tysabri). So far, they have showed only limited progression - the MRI confirmed and reassured me in my mind that I am doing the right things to be as well as I can be. But you know what? it didn't necessarily reflect how good or bad I was feeling.

My answer to you is - do what you are most comfortable with - you know your body and your disease better than anyone!

[TheSleeper]

I have Primary Progressive so it's a bit different, my last MRIs were done early in 2006 as part of the diagnostic process. I am on no medications, and have no fear! LOL

[Erika]

I get one every year for the MS but had a couple of extras in the past year for stroke. I doubt that I will go in for the MRI this year unless something changes dramatically symptom wise because all it shows is progression. Not much can be done about that (SPMS), so I don't really see the point in having it done.

The cost of it is covered under our government health plan but if I had to pay for it, I'd probably be even more likely to not have it so the money could be spent on something else that was more urgent.

It really does depend on one's situation though. If treatment is available or a treatment's effect/side effect is being monitored, that is something that needs to be given consideration. By the same token, if previous ones don't show much change and symptoms are stable, its probably best to go with the neuro's suggestion and your own intuition.

With love, Erika

[Starznight]

I have also wondered about the need for MRIs after diagnosis... I mean, there isn't a cure for the disease, not even really an effective treatment for reversing some of the damage yet, so wouldn't an MRI only show the expected progression, or stability of the disease? It just seems like we're still playing lab rats for the drug companies but at our own expense.

Cynical as that is, I'm still going in for a follow-up mri in a few months, but I'm not sure how many I'll agree to after that. Pretty much until they think they can actually do something other than tell me...'hey you're getting worse! Or hey, you haven't gotten worse!' I'll keep my $500.00 thank you.

[Lynn]

Guinea pigs for the big pharma? Quite possibly, but the DMD's work for some and not others - and different ones are effective for different people, so in that respect it is good to see whether your gamble is paying off, and these expensive drugs are doing what they are supposed to.

Remember too that a lot of the damage is silent - so even if you are not have events NOW on your poison of choice, it may not be doing you any favours in the long run.

[msbluis]

Like Sleeper, I'm Primary Progressive. I've never had annual MRI's. I had one two years ago and there were literally no real changes from the one done many years earlier.

I have progressed measurably and consistently every year for 20 years to where I cannot do much of anything for myself.

So I'd guess with PP maybe the changes aren't reflected by MRI

I'm a Quad. I'm in a Care Home. (aka Nursing Home) I see my husband about once a week.

MS takes away so much more than one's abilities. It steals one's life.

[doydie]

When I first went to my nuerologist way back in 1997 it was an MRI every year. Eventually it went to every 2 and then every 3 years. Now she says if we see no need to have one done then one is done. I haven't had a change in symptoms in years especially after losing 60 pounds