after having m.s 8 years , and having the usual mobility problems walking short distances , weakness and poor balance I have been suffering more for nearly 3 weeks of increasing weakness and numbness in my legs , mainly my left .
I started to notice my eyes were blurry and a slight tingling in my left cheek and so suspected a relapse although I’m always weak this has been three weeks of more intense weakness and so pushed for an m.s nurse to see me .
it took a lot of convincing to be given oral steroids and was given 500mg methylprednisolone to take 5 X day for 5 days . However , this is day 2 , I’m feeling awful on them , lots of tingling all over , especially legs and aching . Not to mention my blurry eyesight feels worse , this morning I woke with awful tremors which eases slightly during the day and my face randomly flushes like sunburn
I’m really here for any advice on whether this is normal and eases ? Thankyou in advance
I’ve had methylprednisolone several times at the same dose. I’ve had teeth grinding, up all hours, palpitations kind of effects. And after the steroids feeling all bruised. But I’ve not experienced a worsening of the MS symptoms you are taking them for. I wonder whether the relapse was just due to get worse anyway and it’s just happened at the moment you’re taking the steroids?
Or whether it’s a reaction to the steroids! Have you looked through the drug leaflet for expected side effects or just binned it? If you don’t have the leaflet anymore, try searching the Internet for a list of side effects. If what you’re experiencing falls into the 1 in 10 people category, then keep taking them if you feel happy to do so. If the effects are the ‘stop taking and see a doctor asap’ then that’s what you should do. If it’s somewhere in between, then perhaps phone your GP first thing in the morning and get an urgent appointment; or if you have a good MS nurse, phone her first thing and ask for advice.
Hopefully the effects will wear off and you can continue the steroids and send that relapse packing fast.
I’ve read all the side effects , there are so many , hopefully I’ll settle down , it’s only day 2 and the relapse if it is one has been lingering for a while , I just hope it’s not progression . Especially as I’ve had a few good months and walked a fair bit , trouble is I’m suffering with knee pain in both so waiting for orthotics appointment
Don’t forget that relapses can take months to get over. Steroids can speed them up, but not cure a relapse. Often you only realise symptoms have remitted after a long time when you suddenly think somethings better.
It’s very tempting to start thinking your MS has become SP (I’ve been doing it for years) but if you are still having relapses with some, if incomplete remission, then you keep the label of RR. This is quite important since once you have the label SP, even if it’s SP with relapses, you lose qualification for most DMDs.
I’d recommend, take them really early with a spoonful of something sweet to follow as they are impossible not to tast. Also, some rice pudding for later. I’ve also had a few times and they give me heartburn so the rice pud is my best defence.
It’s not unusual to get a comedown. I usually feel a bit tender afterwards.