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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Unable To Walk With No Arm Movement After Been Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis. What Are The Chances Of Recovery?

Hello, My brother-in law is 52, was diagnosis with MS in Dec. Within 3 weeks he was unable to walk, and now has little almost no use of his arms... What is the % that he will be able to walk and have use of his arms He is getting IV infusion for treatment once a month at this time. Thanks
posted on Fri, 21 Jun 2013
Twitter Sun, 9 Aug 2015 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 12 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on
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Neurologist,  's  Response
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

In general after a new lesion in multiple sclerosis there is some improvement, mostly in the first month, but can be expected up to 6 months with physiotherapy. That doesn't mean that the disease won't have other relapses in the future, it is a chronic disease, it will progress, medication tries to slow it down but can't stop it.
As for percentages it is difficult to speak about your brother in law case. That is because that description is not typical for MS, it is not a classical looking case. Usually it takes years before a patient is disabled to the degree you describe, not only 3 weeks. So either the diagnosis has been made very late, or he has had a lesion in a critical area which causes major disability like the spinal cord. So predictions should be made based on individual characteristics and his imaging information, can't generalize and give usual statistics.

I hope to have been of help.
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Unable To Walk With No Arm Movement After Been Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis. What Are The Chances Of Recovery?

I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. In general after a new lesion in multiple sclerosis there is some improvement, mostly in the first month, but can be expected up to 6 months with physiotherapy. That doesn t mean that the disease won t have other relapses in the future, it is a chronic disease, it will progress, medication tries to slow it down but can t stop it. As for percentages it is difficult to speak about your brother in law case. That is because that description is not typical for MS, it is not a classical looking case. Usually it takes years before a patient is disabled to the degree you describe, not only 3 weeks. So either the diagnosis has been made very late, or he has had a lesion in a critical area which causes major disability like the spinal cord. So predictions should be made based on individual characteristics and his imaging information, can t generalize and give usual statistics. I hope to have been of help.