2 New Lesions in 6 Months

[california6702]

I was diagnosed over new years with MS where they found 4 lesions in my cervical spine (one was enhanced which was causing the whole right side of my body to go numb). I just barely had a follow up MRI where they found 2 "inactive" lesions in my brain (wasn't aware of any attacks), but the doctor didn't seem too concerned about it because they were inactive and obviously the attacks I had with those were so small I didn't notice much. But isn't the fact that I had 2 new lesions in only 6 months kind of bad? I've been taking copaxone for 3 1/2 months, I thought that was supposed to prevent lesions? Or are two small ones not ever causing problems pretty normal? If I have even small inactive lesions does that mean I have progressing MS? I tried to ask these things but the doctor just kept saying it wasn't a big deal because they were inactive, and just to stay on Copaxone. I'm still fairly new to this so some details can be kind of confusing.

[sardi_g]

Hello and welcome! That doesn't sound like progressive ms. A flare-up immediately rules out primary progressive I believe.

Lesions don't tell the whole story but they're definitely frightening. I was diagnoses last June and my first mri showed over 70 lesions, yet I'm still classified as RRMS and don't have any physical disability. It's less the number of lesions I believe versus *where* those lesions are and how well we are able to make up for any decrease in function bc of the deterioration. My last mri this may showed *30-40* lesions and one new one since last year. So they can decrease and remyelination can occur as well.

I know it's scary! I try not to think of my mri and just focus on what I observe and what I can do. I keep up excersizing, I'm actually eating better since this whole thing started. Going rollerblading in a few as soon as the coffee kicks in. I didn't go much last summer it was too hot and this will be my first time this year.

Don't be discouraged by the lesions - but you can change medications if you're not happy with it. I believe they take about 3 months to kick in? Let's see what others have to say.

Stay strong! Everyone reacts differently to this disease. Make sure you're doing what you can re lifestyle and come here often and post with any/every question!

[rdmc]

Hi California,

Sorry about the new lesions, but I'm going to post a link (I've posted it many times on this forum) that shows how changes in brain lesions can come and go and not cause problems.

The patient in this study had 24 MRIs in one year, and then they put them into a time lapse frame. During that time, you'll see all the changes happening in his brain, lesions coming and going, enhancing and fading. Yet he reports no relapses, nor increase in symptoms during the year.

I think it helps to put things in perspective and know that lesions can come and go and still cause no problems.

http://www.msdiscovery.org/news/news...more-meets-eye

[22cyclist]

If I remember correctly, it takes about 6 months to get fully vested in Copaxone. That means you may still be getting lesions but you are not at the 6 month mark of the medication yet.

Something else to note is that Copaxone has a 30% effectiveness in preventing new relapses. The new med Tecfidera has a 50% effectiveness in preventing new relapses. Others, like Tysabri have an 80% effectiveness.

Copaxone has its perks though, I took it for years and it kept my lesions at bay. It has few to no side effects (except the injections site reactions.)

I agree with the others that you are not really progressing, that is just RRMS doing its thing. Give it until your next MRI to declare the drug a failure or success for you. I also agree that it is where the lesions are, not how many.

Good luck!

Lisa
Moderation Team

[Marco]

Hang in there

I think we often think of our MS medications like something for a headache. I have a headache, take medicine and within the hour we get some relief. MS medications are intended to slow the disease over years.

It takes roughly 9 months for Copaxone to be fully effective. Even at 100% effectiveness, lesion development is likely to continue as will flares. The difference is the medication will hopefully increase the time interval between flare ups, reduce the damage and the time duration of the flare.

Lesions may come and go without creating new symptoms and between MRI cycles. You may also get new symptoms without new lesions on the MRI. The point is this is not an exact science. You may even get different results from different MRI machines, open vs. closed, or Tesla variations in the machines.

One could argue the location of the lesions is vastly more important than the number. To make things even more difficult new lesions not separated by 30 days are generally considered a single episode (flare up or exacerbation).

I try to improve areas that I can control (e.g. diet, fitness, sleep, etc.) and try to shelve things out of my control like lesion development or the price of tea in China. I wouldn't mind taking MRIs every 3-5 years, but my neurologist has me taken them annually.