13 plus lesions can be seen in the one picture the neuro printed out for me. I haven't read a report and was just told I have many lesions and have had ms for many years. many same symptoms as what I have read here. I'mwondering how the scan pictures work. Are there other lesions at different layers or locations of the brain or would they all be in this one picture. Any ideas. My doc wasn't very specific with his explanation. He just wanted to start treatment with Beta and said it is not in the beginning stages..... I don't really know what to think. And afraid to ask too many questions...

This may vary. On my films, some of my lesions show up on more than one picture but many do not. But that is probably because mine are relatively small compared to how far apart the slices were. The lesions are/were about 3mm, and pix were also about 3mm apart.

Most are within (if I remember right) about 3 or 4 levels, or pictures.

I asked for copies of my MRI films at the time they were done, and they were ready a few days later along with the report. I called ahead, got the films at radiology and report at Records. You can try that with your tests, too.

Comes in handy for all the doc visits - as if that stuff makes it in time for your appt, iykwim, if you don't bring it yourself.

I got copies of all my medical history from the time I started to go to the doctor's office that I go to now (records go back about 15 or 16yrs) and got myself a 3ring binder and loaded it up with my previous medical history, and then added all the tests for the MS and all the medical problems I've had since the MS symptoms showed up. Put a couple of plastic CD holders that fit in the rings of the binder and added my MRI scans.

When I went to the MS Clinic at one of the local hospitals, the nurse practitioner just LOVED my medical binder. She was so excited that I had everything organized by specialty (neurological, urologic, general medicine..) and that I had copies of my MRI's.

None of my records had ever made it to the Clinic, so she just made copies of what they needed from my stash of info, and burned copies of the MRI cd's. She said if everyone was that organized, her job would be a lot easier to do. Plus, she was able to look at my records and then ask me questions about what was going on and write my answers directly on her copy of the reports.

She was nice and had copies of whatever records the Clinic wrote up on me and had them all in a nice manila folder for me later that week. Neatly arranged in order of importance for me. I made a "MS Clinic" section of the binder, so that if I had to go to another clinic, I'd have exactly what the local MS Clinic tested me for.

This way I dont have to have all my doctors send information separately to any new doctors. I also scanned them into the computer and saved everything to a cd. Did that because the binder was getting heavy. Next time I have to have records delivered, I'm just going to mail a copy of the cd instead. Or carry one with me. Much easier than lugging the originals in the binder.

As of Oct. 2005 - 2 brain lesions and numerous c-spine lesions.

Most of my symptoms are from the waist down and vary depending on remission or relapse - L'Hermittes, vibrations/buzzing, leg weakness, pain, gait issues and internal shaking/tremors. Decreased sensation in feet, left foot being worse. Yet, my feet are hypersensitive

When first diagnosed I was numb from the waist down but rarely do I deal with numbness.

Hi Mama, I have had MS for, going on 45 years now and have never had the pleasure of reading one of my MRIs. My first one was in 1993 and my Neuro said, when asked, that it was typical MS? I had another MRI with a new Neuro in, around, 2000 and he forgot to have it there, but said nothing had changed since the last one?

I guess I've had typical RRMS and now SPMS, over the years. ON only once, no chronic pain, no complete paralisis...just the usual pins, pricks, bladder probs., numbness and weakness. 2 major exacerbations in 1974 and 1992, with many smaller ones along the way. Nothing outstanding or earth shattering.

In a Scooter most of the time, but can still walk a little. I haven't had PT for a long time and I think I may need it. I'm a lazy butt. I don't mean to sound to darn possitive, now, it's been a biotch and a long tiring trip. I think I am more acclaimated to it than having a positive attitude.

The only lesion my neurologist felt was important was the one in my right cerebellum. I don't know how big it is, but on the MRI it's the size of a fingerprint.

My radiologist report said something about T2 punctate lesions in the periventricular area, and white matter involvement of the right frontal horn. Whatever that means.

So with the cerebellum lesion, I've got:

• Right leg and arm spasticity and weakness
• Gait problems
• Bladder and etc. spasticity
• Tremor and head bob

Those are the only ones that specifically relate to the lesion...

My other symptoms are typical for MS:

• Numbness, right and left sides
• Cognitive impairment (worse when I feel worse)
• ON & nystagmus, light sensitivity
• Buzzing, tingling, cold sensations
• short-term memory loss

However, when I tell the neurologist I don't think as well as I used to, he tells me that's not possible, because I don't have a lesion in that area. Obviously he's a little behind the curve.

I don't remember the exact percentage, but the lesions visible in the brain are only about 20% of the actual damage present.

Don't remember where I read it... But damage on the left side of the brain has been correlated with more depression and emotional response. Those people with damage on the right side of the brain tend to shrug it off and put up with it, even if the damage is extensive. Guess where mine is!

Thanks, all, for the responses

30+ lesions on MRI dated 5/03. Scattered throughout brain. None in spine.

MS now for 20 years. Dx'ed in early 1988 without an MRI. First MRI in 1989 confirmed dx.

I don't know what I am, but I still consider myself RR. I do have some permanent problems - mostly with numbness in my legs.

I've had a dozen or so MRI's over the years. Lesions come and go, dance, swim around, flare up, disappear. First MRI - 3 lesions. Record low in 1994 - 1 lesion. record high - the 30+ in 2003.

I've also had symptoms come and go. The pain in my neck that bothered me for so many years and was one of my first symptoms went away in 2004. The pins and needles in my right hand and right side of my face only existed for the first couple of years. I had seizures 1992-1994 that the docs concluded were MS related. Vertigo and balance issues come and go. The optic neuritis that got me dx'ed hasn't come back.

Tom

Sorry peoples, serious hi-jack about to follow.........

Although I have RRMS not SPMS, I was diagnosed just over 30 years ago (1977) and never had an MRI until 2001. Lets face it, when we were diagnosed (on symptoms alone) MRI's hadn't been invented then.

I'm glad you have a positive attitude Sally because I believe it keeps us sane through "life after diagnosis".

Now back to the regular thread.......

I have lesions in my brain, my neck and my lumbar spine. I'm so mixed up right now that I don't know which lesion is causing what problem!

At present I have memory loss, fatigue, unsteady gait, leg stiffness, myclonic jerks, and a "sunburn" feeling when I haven't even been out in the sun.

I get neuropathic eye pain, urinary retention & bowel problems, mood swings and did I say memory loss?

I get blurred vision, muscle weakness, footdrop, hypersensitivity to noises, and did I mention memory loss?

The list goes on.