This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

How soon after starting Copaxone should one have an MRI done, given the fact that the drug takes 6 months or so to start working?

Connie

I think each neuro may have his or her own opinion about when to do MRIs. Have you checked with your neuro about his plans to monitor your treatment ? My neuro only does them "if needed for treatment decisions" and the only MRI I've ever had was for diagnosis about 3 1/2 years ago.

Sharon

Yes, they do all differ, which to me is an indication that there is no right or wrong when it comes to MRIs and this illness. I have an appointment coming up and am unsure whether to ask for an MRI if he doesn't want to do it or accept it if he does -- on the one hand it would be nice to know this stuff is actually doing something, on the other hand I'd rather not go through the stress (I am prone to panic and worry ) of having one done when I am not sure if any effect of the medication would even be apparent yet. And then there is the whole concept of MRIs being only loosely correlated with progression and/or disability.

Connie

For sure IMO you don't want to experience stress. Would it help to call the nurse and just ask when the neuro usually orders MRIs?


That's a biggie for me. While I was shocked at the onset about my neuro's position on MRIs I've personally become quite comfortable with it. But, when they routinely and consistently start measuring brain atrophy instead of lesions I may well be interested in having more MRIs at some regular interval to gauge treatment response and disease progression.

And, in case you haven’t read it yet, you might be interested in this 2004 interview with Daniel Pelletier an MS imaging scientist from the Accelerated Cure site. I found it to be informative about MRIs in general, although for sure it doesn't answer your immediate question.

I wish you the best with this minus of course the worry and stress.

Sharon

Good article Sharon! Many thanks!

First, there was the General Discussion posting from Lyon on October 30, 2006, of the History of MS brochure by the NMSS which said,

Then, I read the Paul Le Gac papers from the Wheldon site which stated,

Then, I read the abstract by researchers at Louisiana State University that proposed that MS is a vascular disease.

Now, in the Boston Cure interview with Daniel Pelletier that Shayk posted here I found this paragraph VERY interesting:

I certainly hope that more researchers are looking in the direction of the blood vessels! By the way, I believe I've read that insulin thickens smooth muscles; aren't they around the blood vessels?

And just now I read bromley's posting of an abstract from the MS Society in the UK which stated:

Again, I found the sentence, "The hypothesis is strongly supported by historical evidence, currently largely forgotten, that drugs that open blood vessels (e. g., amyl nitrite) can restore function in MS within an hour." VERY interesting!!! Maybe this work will lead researchers to start looking in the right "box of keys."