Can ms run it's course?

elly · Family Member Joined: Mar 09, 2007 Posts: 46

Hi Everyone,

The other day i was in a bookshop reading up on ms (unfortunately this is my new hobby Rolling Eyes

). There was a book there that was showing different people that have been studied who have ms and how the disease has affected them throughout their lives. The author (DR) went on to say that in some people ms can eventually just run it's course. Of course it didn't say it was cured or anything ridiculous like that but that it just seems to stop in it's tracks.

I would love to believe that this is a possibility but i guess we will never know if we will be the ones that this happens to.

What do you think?

Thanks Elly

jimmylegs · Family Elder Joined: Mar 12, 2006 Posts: 2117

i have heard of people just having one attack. also there are stories of people who managed their illness aggressively with dietary/lifestyle measures and lost their symptoms. i don't necessarily think this solution applies to all cases but it sure could help, if it's done carefully.

Manchester · Family Member Joined: Feb 01, 2007 Posts: 46

Hi Elly,

I have heard this too but I don't think it is such a optimistic scenario is it may first appear.

The doc may be referring to the fact a lot of people do plateau eventually and at that stage may see no further progression. Sure, this could be interpreted as MS having run it course, however, in many cases this means they will have reached an EDSS of 7.5, 8 or 9 or at the least have quite a lot of none- reversible disability.

So not exactly a ringing endorsement that someone's MS will burn out at a stage when they are perhaps only 1-3 on the EDSS.

I think you would see a lot more research and articles on MS burning itself out if it were as simple as this book appears to suggest and you will be hard pressed to find even one.

As Jimmy says people can manage their condition well, others have one attack and no more, some have a relatively benign course which could be suggestive of what this doctor says. But this doesn't mean the MS has run its course.

Ho hum,
Manchester

ClancyPavillion · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:29 am Post subject:

Hey Elly,
Glad to hear from you... nothing to add... just saying hello! Wink

_________________
"Some women aren't meant to be tamed... we are meant to run free until we find someone just as wild to run with"

Lyon · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject:

Rita · Family Member Joined: Nov 28, 2004 Posts: 58

maybe the different course is because the cause is produced by different microorganisms.

Lyon · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

Manchester · Family Member Joined: Feb 01, 2007 Posts: 46

Bob,

This article are the nearest I can get to finding applicable information

http://www2.healthtalk.com/go/multiple-sclerosis/ask-the-doctor/content/getting-older-hitting-a-plateau

It is saying as people get older there is less active disease but continued slow progression.

All it means is that the active (autoimmune process) seems to stop but the underlying process continues, so not saying MS runs it course, but rather more indicative, to me, that the autoimmune process is not the primary reason for MS.

Manchester

Lyon · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks Manchester,
Yeah, that link was kind of skimpy but you've had better luck in finding that kind of information than I've had!

I think this topic of progression slowing down after great disability is directly related to the "assumptions" regarding the more progressive phases of MS being unresponsive to current treatments. I don't want to go on a tangent so I won't mention that researchers REALLY need to start basing their assumptions on more solid grounds.

Bob
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Wife diagnosed with RRMS in Feb. 2006.