Prednisone

[MrsMunier]

Hello!
The Dr. just started me on IV methylprednisone today for 4-5 days.  I am wondering what kind of results has anyone had from the prednisone and how soon you may have noticed a difference. My biggest problems have been the shocking pains, tickling skin, and numbness in my hands.  The numbness in my hands doesn't feel so bad as it did earlier today, usually it feels as if the circulation is being cut off or tightness.

Thank you in advance!
MM

[MrsMunier]

Thank you for your quick response.
Yes it is Methylprednisolone. Day 2 and the numbness in my hands has almost cleared. I feel so much relief its scarey, I wish they would have used this months ago. I've been complaining to my neuro Dr telling him I am getting worse and he says 'it must be stress because my MRI hasn't changed". I just started getting some lovely incontinence, then it happened on my wedding day in my wedding dress even.. Argh! Its becoming stress. After several bouts with that I called the Dr. and said something is wrong, I am getting worse. He didn't have any response. So I called my Gen Dr. and explained to here if something doesn't happen I am going to be handicapped before my next birthday of 42. She wanted to start betaserone but the neuro Dr said I didn't have any indications for it. So she started me on the steroids to see if it would help and sure enough it has.
In the past 6 months, I've been in 2 car accidents, not my fault, but could I prevented it by having more feeling in my hands & legs?

I gained weight with the steroids,  I was 102.3 lbs steady, now I am 108.8. I can see the water build up already. GRRR. But I can use it.:)

Thanks for the responses, they really help

[jensequitur]

Well, and I feel the same way - no real reason to use steroids unless you're temporarily disabled from a flare.  At my last appointment, my neuro asked me if I wanted steroids, and I said no - aside from my leg acting like a wet noodle, and generally feeling like carp, I didn't see any reason to put myself through the stress of losing the pounds from the IV Solumedrol.

[Heather3418]

My Neuro will only use Solumedrol if there is trouble walking (i.e. needing a cane) or I am having Optic Neuritis with the flare.  She "saves" it for really severe relapses.  She says that steriods are hard on the body, particularly the bones, so she reserves it for the most severe relapses.

Last time I was on them, I started feeling better about 10-14 day after the last IV dose.

Heather

[jensequitur]

I've had the oral prednisone, which brought me some relief.  But honestly, you're going to continue to have symptoms - they'll just be better than they were before.  I still had a lot of symptoms, but the overwhelming cog fog and dizziness was better.

[squeezybear]

I was on SoluMedrol? for a 5 day dose last month.  It took approx 1 week to 10 days to get me back to my normal.  When i was first dx, I took this and I hand alot of energy.  This past time I was recovery from gallbladder surgery and went into a bad relapse and the med just got me back to where I was before my surgery.
Everyone is different on how they react to the meds.

Good Luck

[doublevision1]

My last round of IV steroids was for 3 days in early April.  Since then I have had only nominal relief in my sensory symptoms, which sound similar to yours.  I had entire left side numbness (shoulders to toes) and dysthesia in my L hand and arm.  I have the same feeling in my L hand; tightness like the circulation is cut off.  Paradoxically, I find wrapping the area snugly with a compression bandage to provide some temporary relief.  An ice pack seems to help too, albeit also temporarily.

My first round of a 5 day course of IV steroids, 7 months ago, seemed to bring relief more quickly.  Within a couple of weeks the sensory stuff including a major case of MS hug had remitted.

I'm not sure if we are talking about exactly the same steroids - do you mean to say methylprednisolone?  ie: SoluMedrol?  That is what I had on both occasions.

I hope these disturbing sensations soon pass for you, and for me too!  :)

db