Am I SPMS?

[Ant1981]

Have I gone directly to SPMS? Is my neurologist incorrect? I had an episode in August that cleared in a week completely. Then I had my current flare which caused more symptoms but steroids brought symptoms down twice, now I'm off steroids and gradually see small improvements as I couldn't even walk, now I can walk much better but most other symptoms don't really improve much. I'm still believe that I'm in recovery but not sure. I have only experienced remittance once in August. Still waiting for my recovery from my flare I'm sept. at the time of diagnosis. I'm new to this disease but I'm worried.

thx

[Ant1981]

Have I gone directly to SPMS? Is my neurologist incorrect? I had an episode in August that cleared in a week completely. Then I had my current flare which caused more symptoms but steroids brought symptoms down twice, now I'm off steroids and gradually see small improvements as I couldn't even walk, now I can walk much better but most other symptoms don't really improve much. I'm still believe that I'm in recovery but not sure. I have only experienced remittance once in August. Still waiting for my recovery from my flare I'm sept. at the time of diagnosis. I'm new to this disease but I'm worried.

thx

i may be freaking out a little im 36 male BTW

[MarkLavelle]

Have I gone directly to SPMS?

By the traditional definition of SPMS, no.

You can only progress to SPMS after having been RRMS for years.

However, I recall reading about them redefining the varieties of MS down to 3 in the last year or two, so SPMS might no longer exist, even. [anyone have a link?]

[KoKo]

By the traditional definition of SPMS, no.

You can only progress to SPMS after having been RRMS for years.

However, I recall reading about them redefining the varieties of MS down to 3 in the last year or two, so SPMS might no longer exist, even. [anyone have a link?]

Hi Mark

SPMS still exists as an MS course.

Progressive Relapsing MS is the type that has been omitted as a separate category, and is now included in the PPMS category.

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Wh...MS/Types-of-MS

Take Care

[rodriguezsmith]

Thank you! very useful information!

[Thinkimjob]

I don't know - your neuro probably doesn't know. Try not to worry too much. RRMS is not much better. I'm guessing with your new diagnosis you're really, really worried and scared to death at the moment.
Look at it this way - it's unlikely to be as bad as you fear or as good as you hope.
It is what it is.

[KoKo]

Thank you! very useful information!

Welcome to MSW, rodriguezsmith.

[SNOOPY]

What you have described sounds like RRMS and not SPMS. RRMS remissions can be complete (no symptoms) or partial (residual symptoms) with partial remissions being the most common.

I had an episode in August that cleared in a week completely. Then I had my current flare which caused more symptoms but steroids brought symptoms down twice, now I'm off steroids and gradually see small improvements as I couldn't even walk, now I can walk much better

Sounds normal for RRMS.

most other symptoms don't really improve much

Also normal for RRMS. It's normal with RRMS to have permanent symptoms and symptoms that come and go and possibly some symptoms going away.

However, it's possible to not know what symptoms or disability is permanent for a couple of years.

This disease sucks regardless of the "type."

I will again suggest you see a Dr. about treating your anxiety.

[Ant1981]

Anxiety

What you have described sounds like RRMS and not SPMS. RRMS remissions can be complete (no symptoms) or partial (residual symptoms) with partial remissions being the most common.



Sounds normal for RRMS.



Also normal for RRMS. It's normal with RRMS to have permanent symptoms and symptoms that come and go and possibly some symptoms going away.

However, it's possible to not know what symptoms or disability is permanent for a couple of years.

This disease sucks regardless of the "type."

I will again suggest you see a Dr. about treating your anxiety.

i definitely look into CBT to help me with anxiety thx.

I was diagnosed with RRMS and I believe that is accurately diagnosed. I'm not progressing as my walk is getting much better but where is the remittance? Is this my new base line? Cause it's quite miserable and I'd like to get out of the house and drive again. It's only been a couple short weeks since I stabilized with symptoms and only 1 week from my steroid taper. Am I just getting impatient to recover quicker? Could a remittance take months ? Like march 2018 is 6 months. I can't do much right now I guess.

[Thinkimjob]

It's supposed to be six months. My first MS flare was a numb finger. That was 20 years ago; and that finger is still numb.
Other flares "healed" up.

[Ant1981]

Symptoms

It's supposed to be six months. My first MS flare was a numb finger. That was 20 years ago; and that finger is still numb.
Other flares "healed" up.

I wish I just had a numb finger only, not this balance issues and leg stiffness plus leg and arm weakness which affects my walk but slowly improving but so slowly. The wait is excruciating to heal up. My face has been numb for over 2 months still. Does the lesion healing affect symptoms to improve at all or has the damage been done?

[Ant1981]

SPMS RRMS

How is SPMS not much worse than RRMS ??

[pennstater]

How is SPMS not much worse than RRMS ??

Not sure what you are asking. To me, it would seem SPMS is worse for a few reasons:

1. Medications to slow/prevent disability are geared and approved for RRMS, not SPMS
2. With RRMS, even with a relapse, you can recover. SPMS is partly defined because of disability progression.

Depending on your disease course with RRMS, it could be much better than SPMS.

[loopey]

I Understand

I understand how you feel. I have wondered if I had gone so SPMS over and over again. As Thinkimjob said, you don't know and your neuro probably doesn't know. I asked my first neuro and he said he didn't know. I asked my second neuro and he said "I don't think so". It surprised me but I decided I had to stop worrying about it because it was making me so stressed it affected my health.