Hi all, Has anyone been unfortunate to get this from high dose steroids? If so, how did it present? I’ve had 4 steroid courses over 18 months, with massively increased pain in hip/pelvis/thigh since the last dose in August. At times I want to resort to crutches to avoid weight bearing as it is so bad. It has been attributed to the MS as I have bad neuropathic pain in that lower limb & foot, but the neuropathic painkillers don’t touch it. 4 tramadol a day helps. This is my most restrictive symptom as walking small distances & driving is difficult. Even neurophysio declared pain is too bad to manage any exercises just now. Is this typical of MS musculoskeletal pain? Thanks
If in doubt get it checked ASAP. You will need X-rays and an MRI to Dx avascular necrosis. I haven’t had it but a friend of mine with MS had it in both hips and needed hip replacements done. It is rare but can happen. Mind you, after the hip replacements his mobility improved out of sight and he went from being significantly disabled to fully mobile.
However I have extreme pain in my buttocks, pelvis, hips and thigh muscles and can’t stand for more than a few minutes and walking is agony as I get severe pain. I was worried I might be developing hip problems too as I had 5 lots of steroids in one year and I had mine checked and they were fine. For me it was all muscular and neuropathic caused by the MS so yes, the sort of pain you describe can happen due to the MS too.
I have regular physio to try and keep my muscles as stretched and supple as possible and use gabapentin for the pain. But like you my physiotherapist finds it difficult to find exercises I can do that don’t exacerbate it and for me it is one of my most restrictive and disabling symptoms. I have to use a scooter as I can’t walk any useful distance at all anymore.
But as I said, do get it checked out properly.
All the best,
B
PS
Bother, forgot to post a link you might find helpful… MS brain
B
Hi B, thanks for your response. Interesting that you have similar, and by the sounds of it, more restrictive pain. Do you mind sharing how much gabapentin you take & if you think it makes any difference? I take 900mg 3x daily, but I really don’t find it helps. I suppose because the tramadol seems to ease it a bit I thought maybe it is not down to the MS. I will be sure to ask the nurse about AVN & whether I can be checked. I have cervical & thoracic lesions, so perhaps the pain is just my lot! Thanks again.
Hi,
We’re on the same dose of gabapentin My neuro also recently switched my anti-depressant to Cymbalta as that has a pain relieving quality to it and I have found I have been in less pain since then.
I also take Endone (oxycontin) when the pain is extra bad as the gabapentin doesn’t always control it. I can’t take Tramadol as I am allergic to it. I think because it is also muscular and not just neuropathic the Endone helps as well (or in your case the Tramadol). It is a right b*gger though, isn’t it?
But as always don’t assume it is just the MS. Do get the AVS checked out. Let me know how you get on.
B
Interesting as had v.restritive pain in my left buttock and spine for bout4dys but it is subsiding thank god…went to private phyysiox2 in 4 dys as needed urgent treatment…have got relief…they have said combination of ms and poor biomechanics…hoping just a relapse and not a permanent fixture
Hi, sorry I am aware this thread is ten years old now! It came up when I searched “AVN”- I have AVN in a few of my joints as a result of steroids due to MS, two courses and an injection.
Just wondered how things panned out for you?