Vasculitis or MS or something else

[Nestigj]

My mom, 60 years old, living in Eastern Europe, has been experiencing progressive (but very slow) numbness and eventually loss of control of her right leg and most recently her right arm has just begun to feel slightly numb.  As of now, she is not able to walk with one leg, she drags it and she can not bend it at the ankle. This condition has been going on for about 7-8 years. She was initially diagnosed with vasculitis, was prescribed prednisone, but gave it up right away because of serious side effect (arythmia, swelling).   Then a different group of doctors suggested Progressive MS.  The neurological tests showed the following (quoting doctors, pardon the translation):
Speech , meaning normal. Vision and hearing  in normal limits. Ophthalmoscopic examination is in normal limits. Internuclear little ophthalmoplegia at horizontal look at both eyes; left is more evident. Evident ataxia. Romberg (+). Spastic quadriparesia; right is more evident. Tendon reflexes abnormally brisk. Distal hipoesthesia and position sense abnormality at lower libs. Cerebellar tests dismetric for all limbs; right is evident. Both sides babinski (+)

The treatment they suggest is:
1- Prednizolon 1000 mg/day. İ.V. infusion ( 5 days). (This period can up to 10 days due to clinical responses.
2- İmmuran 50 mg/day. (After one month 100mg/day, after two months  150mg/day continuation.)
3- Following up tests ( hemogram, CPK, SGOT, SGPT) must apply every 3 months.
4- Dodeks ampoule (1000 mg Vit B12)(1 ampoule/day i.m  for one week period then 1 ampoule i.m, 2 weeks intervals )
5- Folbiol tab. 1x1 (250 mg folic acid/day oral).

She is very scared to try any type of Prednisone or Prednisolone after the side effect experience. Please, help if you have any specific ideas or recommendations.  
Much appreciated.

[Nestigj]

thanks so much for your prompt response.  To answer some of your questions, she has done one MRI of her head which according to the doctors there shows no sign of any neurological issues, however an MRI she did on the back of her neck showed an internal infection that led some doctors to believe it was vasculitis.  How the infection in that location connects to her lack of control of her right leg and more recently all the joints in her right leg and foot, is not clear. In other words, there has not been a concrete proof of MS, but some doctors insist that with further testing, they may prove it is MS. Obviously, I am hoping it is vasculitis and with a radical treatment with prednisolone it may at least stop the progression of the desease.  She does not recall having any relapse when she was younger.  The only thing she refers in terms of a past connection is a hernia operation, after which she thinks she started having the very first mild symptoms of numbness in her right foot.
thanks again for your response, any opinion is much appreciated since it has been very difficult for us to determine what she has.
Nestigj

[JonM]

Im sorry to hear of your mother's troubles.  Hopefully this forum will help you.  Her situation is not normal for us in that her Medical Care is so much different than Western medicine and protocol.  I suppose having an MRI is something that can't be done???  Getting properly diagnosed is essential.  I'm not familar with the Meds you listed, perhaps our resident MD (Quix) can help.  If she does have MS and if it is progressive then there's little to do.  Novatrone could help, but it has limits and a protocol for use.  If she has never had a spell of intense symptoms followed by a remission, that would lead me to believe that it may not be MS.  Does she recall having a relapse, then getting better when she was younger?

Good kuck
Jon