No doctor report yet on the t spine MRI but looking at the images with my untrained eye I saw multiple large, pronounced spots on my cord. This makes me wonder why all the neurologists I've seen have never ordered a t spine MRI especially with my rapid progression and disability.

Again, I feel like we are on our own to look out for our own health and well being. I am disgusted with the neurological care I have received to this point and feel like 90% of the load falls on my shoulders to do my own research and come up with my own plan of fighting this disease.

I am really tired of hearing people say "we have the best health care system in the world here in the US". Don't get me wrong, I think we have great facilities and many very smart doctors and researchers but the overall patient care seems to be clouded by the money and disfunction that is a major problem with our system.

Had I known then (when I was diagnosed in 2008) what I know now I would've taken a different approach to my own health and would have held my neuro to a higher standard rather than blindly assuming that they had my best interest in mind. Unfortunately, there is little recourse to shine light on negligence and or incompetence among neurologists in an effort to try to protect ourselves and our MS peers.

I too have seen doctors who don't seem to feel a thoracic MRI is necessary. I learned to insist on having brain, c-spine and t-spine all done. I have a lesion in my c-spine (mid neck) and one in my t-spine (about where my bra strap crosses my back) and those two are responsible for a majority of my symptoms.

Your nero is right. I had an MRI that showed no new lesions but I was experiencing right sided weakness that was progressing. After a few days I started feeling better and gained much of the use of the right side. Guess our bodies can show activity even when there feels as if there isn't any. The point is we are all the same but we are all different, listen to your body and mind we know us better than anyone or thing. Its funny our Doc sees us from 15 to 30min monthly or bimonthly and they think they know us. We are in our bodies 24/7 and we know us like nobody else does but it seems that the Doc's act like they know what is going on and what to expect....Something just doesn't seem right about all of this patient, Doctor realtionship. They really don't know us they just follow a chart of may be's. Wishing you the best in your journey and if you need help, just ask I am always willing to help a fellow person with or without MS

I asked my neuro the same question after having stable MRI's and worsening MS symptoms. She explained that I can have no new lesions showing, but the damage from the old lesion can still cause damage.

It does not take much nerve damage to cause major problems. Nerves are like highways. If you have a wreck in the wrong place it can stop traffic altogether with little damage to the road!