mri question

jimmylegs · Family Elder Joined: Mar 12, 2006 Posts: 2097

hi

so i was just diagnosed 6 weeks ago. in the last week, my lhermitte's sign went away. so i'm curious - will the lesion that caused the lhermitte's still show up on the mri, or do lesions go back to looking like healthy tissue between attacks?

LindaR · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject:

Hello jimmylegs. I was diagnosed 2 years ago. My first MRI showed 15 lesions. Last year's MRI showed to new lesions but I still had the 15 old ones. This year's MRI showed less than 5 lesions so they can heal.

Shayk · Family Elder Joined: Feb 07, 2004 Posts: 586

Hi Jimmylegs

Here's some info that reinforces Linda's experience. Characteristics of MRIs

NHE · Volunteer Moderator Joined: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 776

Sharon,
Thanks for the link to that paper. Unfortunately, I don't read Chinese and I think something might have been lost during the English translation of the abstract. For example...

Anecdote · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:45 am Post subject:

I'm a bit mystified as well: I had four sequential MRIs in the space of two years, to gauge the effect of abx on SPMS. After one year some around the periphery had disappeared, but most were still there, albeit somewhat smaller or less intense. No new ones, though, which is what counts.

Sarah
_________________
An Itinerary in Light and Shadow
Completed Stratton/Wheldon antibiotic regime for aggressive secondary progressive MS in June 2007, after four years. Still slowly improving with no exacerbation since starting. EDSS was 7, now 2 or often less.

Shayk · Family Elder Joined: Feb 07, 2004 Posts: 586

Hi NHE and Sarah

NHE--Sorry, I don't know Chinese either Wink

. Undoubtedly there could be a problem in translation. I also don't know if there have been other studies which show similar results. However, this Interview with Daniel Pelletier About MRIs from the Boston Cure site seems to confirm the findings from that study.

jimmylegs · Family Elder Joined: Mar 12, 2006 Posts: 2097

thanks for the feedback all Smile

scoobyjude · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:05 pm Post subject:

Sorry, I am completely dumb when it comes to technical, scientific speak so if the answer to this question is obvious, please excuse me. I still have my 2 original lesions from 2 years ago but they were only gd enhanced on my first MRI. Subsequently at 3 and 6 months later they did not enhance. I just had MRIs in January and they are still there, slightly improved, and not enhancing. What does this mean then? If they are not enhancing but did not disappear, does that mean more severe tissue damage or is it just if they are enhancing and haven't disappeared? Am I totally reading this wrong? If it's true that they have a lifespan then I'm confused because my neuro told me I'd probably have them the rest of my life like any other scar. Me confused

jimmylegs · Family Elder Joined: Mar 12, 2006 Posts: 2097

hi there, u gotta love the mri jargon don't ya! i swear i spend half my time on wikipedia, figuring out what the hell everyone's talking about.

for u, it sounds like they only shot u up with gadolinium (gd) on the first mri? gd is a chemical agent they put in so they can enhance/see lesion vs healthy better, or at least that's my understanding. i think the lifespan of a lesion may be the time in which it is actively demyelinating, after which it can be a scar???

take care Smile

scoobyjude · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject:

Actually I've had gadolinium every MRI I've had but it would make sense that after it's done demyelinating it would become a scar. That could be what my neuro meant I guess. I just was confused when it was said that they disappeared after a short period. Actually I'm still confused but that's nothing new. Thanks

NHE · Volunteer Moderator Joined: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 776

scoobyjude · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks, that does make more sense. It seems like most of our neurologists don't completely explain things to us because we have to come to this site and ask each other. It is annoying since that's what they get paid for. Thank God there are people on this site who understand all this medical speak more than I do or I'd be lost. Very Happy

Outlawbiker · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: Oh my aching ...

lesions!

I was under the impression that once the lesions had developed (whether enhancing or not with contrast) that a permanent scar was left. I've had them in the 2-3 dozen as far as count goes with none of them appearing "active" as when Gadolinium is used for contrast. My last MRI in 2004 showed that there were no new lesions present but that one appeard to have gotten a bit larger. It was explained to me that maybe it had gotten larger or that maybe the angle at which the slices were made this last session may have been slightly at a different angle thus making the lesion appear different.

Wow! Shocked

I read somewhere on here somebody's lost 5 lesions completely?!!! I want to know what kind of diet or supliments can help fill the holes left by the scarring?

scoobyjude · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject:

That's what I was told too but I guess some people are different and their lesions do disappear. Wish I could figure out a way to make mine do that too Very Happy