Home Menu

Site Navigation



NeuroTalk Support Groups > > >

Anyone Else With Brain Atrophy Too???

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-21-2008, 10:45 AM #1
Catch Catch is offline
Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sherwood Forest
Posts: 300
15 yr Member
Catch Catch is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sherwood Forest
Posts: 300
15 yr Member
Default
I don't think I show any signs of atrophy, but both neuros I saw mentioned it when we discussed going on meds after my dx. They said that even without any major symptoms (which is why many choose not to start DMDs) you will see brain atrophy after a number of years with MS. That, combined with my serious cog fog, eye and leg issues, made taking DMDs an easy decision.
__________________
Relax--It only hurts until you die
.


I'm still walking upright and six feet above ground.
.
Catch is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
Keely (03-21-2008)
Old 03-21-2008, 11:14 AM #2
Keely's Avatar
Keely Keely is offline
Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 106
15 yr Member
Keely Keely is offline
Member
Keely's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 106
15 yr Member
Default
Quote:
They said that even without any major symptoms (which is why many choose not to start DMDs) you will see brain atrophy after a number of years with MS.
Very interesting! My docs all think that I've had MS for years--even though I didn't get Dx'd until a couple of weeks ago--and so do I. As I've mentioned before, I have Crohn's and Lupus, but they feel that I've also had MS for quite a while, and I can track neuro problems going back at least 10 years. The brain atrophy, they said, may be an old story as well.

What you said makes perfect sense--thanks for sharing!
Keely is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-21-2008, 11:26 AM #3
the Bird's Avatar
the Bird the Bird is offline
Senior Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,650
15 yr Member
the Bird the Bird is offline
Senior Member
the Bird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,650
15 yr Member
Default
Brain atrophy....is this around your lesions? I'm confused. I don't want to look it up on the internet, just cause I don't want to know another bad thing that could happen!

Can they do anything for it?

What does this mean for you? sx wise?
the Bird is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-21-2008, 02:52 PM #4
Keely's Avatar
Keely Keely is offline
Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 106
15 yr Member
Keely Keely is offline
Member
Keely's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 106
15 yr Member
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by the Bird View Post
Brain atrophy....is this around your lesions? I'm confused. I don't want to look it up on the internet, just cause I don't want to know another bad thing that could happen!

Can they do anything for it?

What does this mean for you? sx wise?
Whoops--Didn't mean to scare anyone!

No, actually it's tissue shrinkage. It shows up in a CAT scan as well as an MRI. Mine is frontal lobe atrophy--just a small bit of shrinkage in the very front of the brain. Elderly people can get this, as well as Alzheimer's patients. You can also get it from a brain trauma, such as a car accident.

Mine was found by accident during a routine CAT scan after I got bumped in the head with a football--at a softball game!

It wasn't a hard knock, and it didn't cause the atrophy, but since I am neither elderly nor Alzheimer-y, and since I've never had brain trauma, it led to my brain MRI, and spine MRI, and lumbar puncture, and all the other tests---and, thank heavens, a diagnosis.

Turns out that MS can cause it, as well as autoimmune illnesseses where there is vasculitis and the blood can't get to the brain properly. In fact, my PCP thinks my Crohn's caused it, while my neuro thinks that my MS caused it! From what they're saying, I'm leaning towards the MS, but it doesn't matter who dunnit, it's there!

It seems to be a totally separate entity from lesions, and I don't believe lesion activity has anything to do with it--tho' I could be wrong.

Anyway, I didn't mean to scare anyone! I don't believe it's all that common, from what I'm reading--it certainly doesn't seem to be as common as lesions. So please don't worry about it! I was just wondering if anyone else had this manifest itself on their MRIs as well.

Perhaps one of our medical experts out there can write in and enlighten us more about it!
Keely is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
the Bird (03-21-2008)
Old 03-21-2008, 03:05 PM #5
Keely's Avatar
Keely Keely is offline
Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 106
15 yr Member
Keely Keely is offline
Member
Keely's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 106
15 yr Member
Default
Oh, and BTW, brain atrophy doesn't always progress, and often doesn't cause any problems at all. Mine doesn't seem to cause any of my symptoms. I have the typical MS cog/fog sometimes, but the docs don't think it's because of the atrophy. When the shrinkage amount is relatively minimal, it often doesn't affect you at all...

Just don't want to worry anyone--we have enough to worry about, with this disease!!!
Keely is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
the Bird (03-21-2008)
Old 03-21-2008, 09:07 PM #6
the Bird's Avatar
the Bird the Bird is offline
Senior Member
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,650
15 yr Member
the Bird the Bird is offline
Senior Member
the Bird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,650
15 yr Member
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keely View Post
Oh, and BTW, brain atrophy doesn't always progress, and often doesn't cause any problems at all. Mine doesn't seem to cause any of my symptoms. I have the typical MS cog/fog sometimes, but the docs don't think it's because of the atrophy. When the shrinkage amount is relatively minimal, it often doesn't affect you at all...

Just don't want to worry anyone--we have enough to worry about, with this disease!!!
I guess that is what I really wanted to know! You didn't scare me, I want to be informed....but I also didn't want to research it and get worried!! So thank you for explaining.
the Bird is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-21-2008, 11:03 PM #7
PolarExpress's Avatar
PolarExpress PolarExpress is offline
Grand Magnate
  
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Red Wing, MN
Posts: 3,166
15 yr Member
PolarExpress PolarExpress is offline
Grand Magnate
PolarExpress's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Red Wing, MN
Posts: 3,166
15 yr Member
Default
Hey Robin..I believe "Auntie" Lori posted a picture of brain atrophy (I don't thing it was from her personal MRI, but I could be wrong) on MSW, and said the longer you have MS, the larger the that central "butterfly" looking opening in your brain is. As if I haven't lost enough brain cells as it is..LOL
__________________

.
PolarExpress is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Leg Atrophy! Jensequitur Multiple Sclerosis 10 03-20-2010 11:41 AM
help with muscle atrophy J.Ray New Member Introductions 6 02-26-2008 09:59 AM
multiple system atrophy landlord New Member Introductions 5 01-28-2008 09:51 AM
Atrophy & TOS Jomar Thoracic Outlet Syndrome 12 10-15-2007 05:49 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

All posts copyright their original authors.

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.

Home