This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hello everyone!!
I am a 38 year old female. I was sent to have an mri for my cronic migraines. My first mri w/out contrast showed I had 3 leisons and was told to get one with contrast. The day of my mri w/contrast I was told by the doctor that I had inactive MS..I was advised to see a neurologist ..I will be making my appointment shortly but have been trying to do a little research on my own till I see the specialist. I am confused about what inactive means, has anyone had this kind of diagnosis before?..I have so many questions. I do have symptoms and don't understand if I should be relating these syptoms with the ms if it is anactive..could you have sypmtoms if it is inactive? are migraines part of the ms..I know when I see the doctor they can most likely answer these questions but I have to admit I'm a little worried about the unknown..
I hope someone can help with some of these questions..
thanks..

An MRI with contrast determines which lesions are "active" (or "new"), but all lesions that are large enough will show up on an MRI, with or without contrast. The only important parts about active lesions are whether steroids can still help (if the exacerbation is serious) and - for dx purposes - whether they are separate in "time and space" from other lesions.

So "inactive" in this context probably just means that none of the lesions showed up as active on the contrast scan, which means you've probably had them for a while...

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RRMS dx 3/3/11; Copaxone since 12/1/11

HEYYY my post disappeared. luckily mark made some of the same points. also i have had two migraines separated by many years, both well before getting dx'd with ms. question: what other symptoms?

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my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Welcome to ThisIsMS, Claudia; we are glad you found us; we don't have all the answers, but we are glad to share our experiences and ideas.

In my opinion, lesions have little connection with MS symptoms – upon autopsy, people who never had MS symptoms have been found to have LOTS of lesions AND there are people with many MS symptoms who NEVER develop any lesions!

I recommend that, in advance of your appointment, you make a list of ALL your unexplained symptoms and give it to your doctor when you see him (This works for me because I just can't remember everything in the doctor's office.).

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My hypothesis: excess insulin (hyperinsulinemia) plays a major role in MS, as developed in my initial post: http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-discussion-f1/topic1878.html "Insulin – Could This Be the Key?"

Before officially diagnosed with MS I too had migraines. I believe MS is a blood/brain circulation disorder (CCSVI), so are migraines but they manifest differently. If I had known this before 2010 I wouldn't need a cane to walk today. I have found a simple neck massage forcing the blood down towards the heart will stop an attack. Check out my site MS Cure Enigmas.net for ideas.

First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone for their response and time, I really appreciate it..
vesta- I will try the massages, I hope your doing well..thanks
lyndacarol- I will def write down all my symptoms before I go to the doctors, and thanks for your kind words..
jimmylegs- My symptoms are leg pains mostly on my left side but sometimes both..it feels like sciatic pain(burning aching) that goes down to my feet, sometimes unbearable and worsen when I'm on my feet for a long time . I sometimes also have lose of sensation on the top part of my legs. On most days my low back feels like it's bruised and burns even to rub it, but I was told that could be fibromyalgia..
I have migraines almost everyday, some are very painful with nausea and other days a little more bearable..I have dizzy spells with white spots often but I always associated that with the migraines and I also suffer from low blood pressure..
In the last 2 years my eyesight had worsen and now I need glasses to read and see upclose, but I think that is normal for my age yet sometimes I do get blurry vision that then clears up slowly on it't own. I feel very fatigued and tired with no energy most of the days and noticed I pretty much lost my appitite in the last 2 years and eat for necessity, I also realized I have a low grade fever often. I also have prickling or a pinching sensation in my arms and hands on most days but depending on what I'm doing..don't know if these symptoms could be explained by something else or not..thanks!
Mark Lavelle - Thanks again for responding. My lesions are 3, they were measured at 1ct, 8mm and 7mm. But I don't really understand what is the difference between having old or new leisons..and if symptoms are still present with inactive ms.

New lesions are highlighted by the gadolinium contrast agent. They will show up on the MRI as white spots. They represent areas of active inflammation were the contrast agent leaks across the blood brain barrier due to it being weakened from where the white blood cells are crossing it.


NHE

feel like you are licving in my body. told by m0y first neuro that I had inactive ms when i had my first mri in 2006. additional sx of hoarseness. ent dr. says nO PROBLEM WITH vocal cords no allergies or illness. no chiari. tici said i didn't have tc. tail bone is painful as well as lower back wondering if an mri of pelvis would be helpful lumbar is the lowest i have had.

forgot my upper body strength is much better than lower body. imuscle strength doesn't seem to be a problem but coordination is.

claudia: sorry i have not responded sooner! i have just returned from some days away and am off again in the morning - if i don't answer you again by friday, bump the topic to remind me! bbl

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my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com