I don't really know the answer to that question, Laura.

They say the CNS consists of the Brain and Spinal cord, but "they" often don't mention much at all about the brainstem specifically.

I know that the brainstem is the portion of the brain that is continuous with the spinal cord, and it is where all our cranial nerves emerge. The cranial nerves are all the ones that affect our peripheral facial nerves, and CNS optic nerve.:







The resulting damage that occurs from lesions in our spinal cord (and damage to our spinal cord nerve "roots" that feed our peripheral nervous system) can be severe and permanent. They don’t reroute the same was as our brain does. Parts of the brainstem seem to have similar function (have the roots for the cranial nerves). I am ONLY guessing here, but it would seem logical that damage to THAT root system might be (less encompassing, but) just as long-term as damage to the spinal cord root system . . .

I don't know for sure though.

The "inflammatory" lesions (that they always seem to be looking for in our brain MRI's) seem to have the least impact on our disability. But they have found treatments to make those pretty lights go out up there, so that's better then doing nothing perhaps. Well, the meds do seem to affect (brain) relapse rates too, and most of us would prefer to avoid them (relapses) when possible.

Actually the CRABs and Tysabri may affect brainstem lesions too, but I don't know.

Yes, L'H is apparently due to C-spine lesions. Spinal lesions can be very sneaky to observe on a MRI, so having one that doesn't show lesions won't necessarily rule them out.

Cherie