Originally Posted by lady_express_44

Yes, O-bands are Oligoclonal bands (I can never remember how to spell it ).

Well, most of us are apparently expected to have O-bands, but sometimes they look at the number of them (2+) to see how much activity there is. The number of O-bands can offer a "hint" as to the disease process going on ... but it's just a hint.

People with PPMS tend to have more spinal lesion disruption, and less inflammatory brain activity . . . at least compared to early RRMS. You seem to have both going on, but he seems to be focusing on the spinal lesions with your dx.

The reason he is focusing there, is because "MRI-noticable" spinal lesions can potentially cause us additional difficulty. (I am one with mostly spinal (big) lesions, so I know how they can be a challenge). Most of us with MS eventually have spinal lesions though (about 75% of us) . . . but they aren't always big or noticable by MRI. When they are noticable on a MRI though, there is probably more chance of having symptoms from them.

Amy, I had one very big spinal lesion for the longest time. If it had been very active, or if the relapses they caused hadn't healed as well as well they did, they probably would have called me PPMS too. Very active spinal lesions just aren't THAT common with MS, so when they see them, they sometimes think the worst.

I am 18 yrs into this and still walking and doing relatively well. I have a gut feeling you will be too.

Cherie