How do steroids work? I took them 2 months after my symptoms began, is there an optimum time for taking them for them to work properly? Do they take a while to work? I finished my steroids a week ago and I am now just as lightheaded as I was before and my pins and needles and numbness still keep happening (although it does seem to be easing as time goes on). The dizzy, walking on a boat sensation is mostly away but I still feel lightheaded, like I’m in a dream or just slightly removed from everyone else and just generally feeling like my head is wooly or something (it’s hard to explain, does anyone else feel like this?). The tingling and numbness have been hanging around since the steroids (it had gone before I started the steroids but they seemed to bring it back worse than I had it originally!) but the woozy feeling had faded but has been back since I got my period 2 days ago, is there a link and do you think there’s a chance it’ll go again when my period is over? Sorry for all the questions!
Hi templewater
The idea of taking steroids is to hasten the end of the relapse. You can’t think of them being a cure for the relapse, all they can do is shorten it.
But, steroids are just not very predictable. Generally speaking, they work best when you take them early in a relapse. However, each time you take them you can have a different result. So you might find that one time they work quickly and well, and the next time that they don’t work at all. All you can do is take them as soon as possible when you have a relapse, cross your fingers and hope you get more positives than negatives from them.
I’m not sure whether your period would have anything to do with your relapse symptoms. I can’t remember what happened to me (I don’t have periods any more). It’s entirely possible though. See what responses you get from other women.
Sue
Hi, sorry you are still feeling unwell. I’m not sure about steroids but I do know they have their own problems and side effects and coming off them can cause issues. The period answer is yes! Symptoms are often worse during your period due to the increase in your core temperature. Your spinal cord is the thickness of your thumb. When you are warm it expands slightly, this makes any electrical signals going through scars go a bit haywire. It’s not new disease activity it’s just exacerbation of existing symptoms.