Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Are my achey heavy legs an MS symptom or a Solu-medrol side effect?

I recently learned that I might have MS. My neurologist specializing in MS put me on 3 days of Solu-medrol infusions followed by a Prednisone taper. I just finished my 3rd day of infusions and will start the Prednisone later this morning. Many of my MS-like symptoms have reduced substantially. However, my leg joints and feet joints/heals are very achey and feel heavy/swollen, especially in my feet/ankles and sometimes I get a stabbing feeling through the bottom of my feet upward. Its worse when I walk or stand. My lower back also gets achey at times. I have had achey legs and feet over the years, but it wasn't that bad just before starting the Solu-medrol. My question is whether this feeling is a side effect of Solu-medrol or an MS symptom that his not being relieved by the Solu-medrol? I would be grateful for any insight!
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Theoretically yes IF these particular symptoms are pre-existing or had worsened during an MS relapse....a relapse is basically symptom(s) return-worsen-new as in, the return of previously remitted symptoms and or the worsening of existing symptoms and or experiencing new symptoms...

Keep in mind IVSM isn't capable of getting an MSer totally back to being symptom free if they're not still in the early stages.....IVSM is used to 'try' to shorten the relapse time frame, shorten the length of time of the relapse and it can also reduce the severity of the relapse because the MS attack is basically being cut short.

Think more that IVSM is about trying to get an MSer back to their individual 'pre-relapse' situation were ever possible, outside of a relapse they still will have their unique pre-existing established MS symptoms and over time, with more attacks some of those returned or new symptoms will eventually become everyday if the disease it'self is left untreated.

Hope that helps........JJ
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks Supermum! I also still have some tingling in arm/hand, leg/foot, back, head and a tiny bit of numbness, although milder than before the Solumedrol. So, just to clarify my understanding of your response, it might be that these symptoms might be too old and established for the drugs to completely eliminate them?
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome,

I'm reluctant to say it could be one or the other, apart from "heavy" within this part you wrote "my leg joints and feet joints/heals are very achey and feel heavy/swollen, especially in my feet/ankles" joint issues and swelling are not typically the types of issues associated with MS, not primary symptoms, possibly secondary from long term disuse, circulation issues, water retention, spinal structural issues, osteoarthritis etc  

The common IVSM side effects we often talked about seem to be more along the lines of difficulty sleeping, feel hyper, jittery/antsy, weepy, laughing, affecting mental health etc....other possible explanations of why these particular symptoms haven't reduced would be it's caused by a completely different issue eg structural spinal issues - degenerative disc disease, slipped disc, arthritic issues, sciatic nerve compression etc

If this is all part of MS for you, it's is likely the damage is not something that can be reduced or improved by IVSM now, IVSM can help shorten an MS 'relapse' and or reduce the severity but if the damage is old it's unlikely to help with preexisting established MS symptoms. IVSM shouldn't make some MS symptoms worse and others reduced, so if you haven't yet, i'd contact your neuro to let him/her know what's happening...

Hope that helps.....JJ

Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease