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How do spinal lesions affect prognosis

A MyMSTeam Subscriber asked a question 💭
August 21
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Normal vs. Abnormal Cervical Spine MRI in MS Read Article...
A MyMSTeam Member

It has for me too, I feel for you.

August 22
A MyMSTeam Member

Ive always wondered this, I have afew brain lesions and also cervical spinal lesions, I was diagnosed aged 25 with aggressive RRMS as they put it. I was offered Lemtrada which at that point was a new drug only used for the most servere symptomatic patients, i had tried Copaxone and Rebif beforehand with no effect.

I had the Lemtrada over 2 years, the first 12 months after these treatments was tough but then I did start to feel better for around 12 months after them.

Then around 3 years ago so 10 years post Lemtrada, I got diagnosed with SPMS due to no relapses but worsening disabilty.
The main areas of chronic pain and spasms for me is my thoracic spine, hips and legs.

Ive had MS now for 13 years and im my personal opinion it has deteriorated quite rapidly. I feel at this point it is deteriorating further I have zero energy these days, and daily living seems to be alot tougher too.

August 22
MyMSTeam

Spinal lesions can be an important indicator of how MS may progress over time. They carry more weight than brain lesions when it comes to prognosis, partly because the spinal cord isn't as good at compensating for damage as the brain is. For people already diagnosed with MS, having spinal lesions is linked to a higher Show Full Answer

Spinal lesions can be an important indicator of how MS may progress over time. They carry more weight than brain lesions when it comes to prognosis, partly because the spinal cord isn't as good at compensating for damage as the brain is. For people already diagnosed with MS, having spinal lesions is linked to a higher likelihood of:

- Experiencing more MS relapses
- Developing disability over time
- Needing to switch to stronger disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) Location matters too. Lesions in the cervical spine (the upper part of your spine, near the neck) are particularly significant. Even a single cervical spine lesion found before age 30 has been linked to a higher chance of more severe disability and a faster shift toward a more progressive form of MS. That said, a new lesion isn't a reason to panic. It's simply valuable information your neurologist will use to guide treatment decisions — like whether to start or switch DMTs. More than 20 FDA-approved DMTs exist that can help slow progression and reduce relapses, so there are real options available.

Regular MRI monitoring is key to staying on top of any changes and keeping your care team informed.

August 21

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