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I was diagnosed with PPMS just a few plaques showing on MRI scans of brain and C-Spine. However brain atrophy is described. Can one have MS and very few plaques? One other question I recently had an episode of increased pain, balance issues and blurring. I was admitted and given a high dose of Solumedral which made the symptoms more tolerable. One of the doctors stated they are surprised since they did not think that PPMS patients would respond to Solumedra. What are your thoughts? Thanks I would really appreciate your input. I am new to this site.

I am by no means an expert but I associate ppms with ccsvi. A few lesions with your symptoms and significant brain atrophy screams medulla/cranial nerve compression and poor perfusion to me. My guess is that your are rrms (hence the solumedrol helping) with significant ccsvi issues. Are you at all I interested in ccsvi? If so, I would check into it as an initial treatment option.

GL!

Scotto wrote:I was admitted and given a high dose of Solumedral which made the symptoms more tolerable. One of the doctors stated they are surprised since they did not think that PPMS patients would respond to Solumedra.

A small study, but it indicates PPMS does have some response to steroids.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script= ... so&tlng=en

Hi Scotto

Can one have MS and very few plaques?

I think one can have MS and very few plaques. One of the better articles I've read about MRIs is from the MS Discovery Forum entitled: More Than Meets the Eye: the promises and pitfalls of MRI imaging in multiple sclerosis

It's rather lengthy but quite informative IMO especially if you're new to MS.

Wishing you all the best. (I know nothing about steroids in PPMS.)

Sharon

Hi Scotto!

Do you aware that there's a McDonald criteria to determined whether u have MS?

Here's the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald_criteria

There's a criteria for PPMS too. Hope it helps u. Thank you.

Hi Scotto--
Sorry about your recent diagnosis, but glad that you introduced yourself. In the past couple of years, researchers are looking more at gray matter atrophy and MS, rather than simply monitoring white matter lesions. The specific areas they are focusing on are the thalamus, brain stem and third ventricle width. You might want to talk to your neuro and GP about this, and discuss ways to help your gray matter health. There are nutritional, exercise, alternative, and lifestyle strategies that have helped many. Keep learning, and all best wishes to you.
Here's a thread on neuros looking at gray matter--
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 19418.html

cheer