Originally Posted by tkrik

What would it take to say that someone is cured or being cured of MS?

Quite honestly, I don't know. To be cured to me would mean that the disease (causes, symptoms, etc.) would be gone and not return or little chance of returning.

However, do I feel I am in the process of being "cured?" At this point, he!! yeah! I look back to where I was 4 years ago to where I am now and there is a big difference. There are some things that have not repaired, rewired, or whatever but I can walk now without falling or hanging on to things, have better coordination, and don't have to use my cane daily. For me that is impressive and I am happy about it. That 1st year was scary not only for me but my kids, DBF, and family. I did not have a long enough break from exacerbations (every 6 weeks give or take) for my body to even have a chance to heal (IMO). I finally got the chance once things calmed down. Copaxone??? Maybe???

Don't get me wrong, I have set backs and exacerbations but comparatively to that 1st year of serial flares, 1-2 flares a year is far better than 6 to 7 major ones a year. Of course, if you ask me this tomorrow I may give a completely different answer depending on how I feel when I wake up.

Realistically, I know I am not "cured." What ever the cause for the MS is still there. I'll have another exacerbation and/or flare of some symptom. It will never be gone and rears it's ugly head from time to time and I still have symptoms on a daily basis. It's still there.

A little bit OT but it amazes me the "positive" terms they use when talking about not only MS but other diseases as well. Cure is positive and something we all hope for but at this point, scientifically, not possible for us. A cure can be temporary making it a negative, which is where I think many of us with RRMS are - temporarily cured. MS is such a tease.

Progression is a positive term but NOT to us MSers. We don't want progression, we want regression - a return.

And then there is the infamous "Hug." What the heck is that positive about? Hugs are supposed to be nice and warm and fuzzy and make you overall feel good. It is NOT a hug and you will find me often referring to it as the MS Vise grip. This I deal with on a daily basis to varying degrees of pain and it just doesn't feel the same as a hug from a loved one.