Can NSAIDs make sensory MS symptoms temporarily disappear?

[tedtheo]

Hi,

First a brief history:
I have 2 lesions showed up on a brain MRI, and my main sx's that come and go are thumb, index and middle fingers' tingling/swollen like feeling, also palm feeling hot sometimes (right much more than left hand). I am scheduled for an LP by end of April, but my neuro thinks the lesions could be migranes (which I can't commit to because I am not a severe migrane getter, I get occasional headaches which are doubtful to be classified as migranes).
The tingling/swollen feeling happens with thumb, index and middle finger. Never lasts more than a day, but if it comes back after a week or so, it will come back to the same finger tips. The hot/cold feeling comes to almost half of the area of the palm that is far from the thumb. This again does not last more than couple hours generally, but if I get this again, it will be same area. Sometimes I feel the same thing on top of my hand as well though.


This is a question I will ask my neuro in the next appointment, but wanted to gather your thoughts as well:

If I take an Aleve (220 mg Naproxen Sodium) when I am having the hand or finger symptoms, they will go away in 15 mins, and would not come back as long as Aleve works which is almost around 8 - 12 hours. If my hand/finger symptoms are due to lesions, could Aleve have had such a high efficiency in calming down the symptoms?

[Lizzybrown]

I was told migraines as a possible as well as cd as a possible. But not enough tests have been run for me. However I have symptoms and pain that won't go away with tylenol, nsaids or even this one shot of toradol my doctor told me about. Nothing works. But I take the pain meds because they say to. Not because it helps. IF you don't take them they will assume you don't want to try.

Look up complex migraine. That's what they think I have. It can cause a butt load  of symptoms, apparently.

For example these are my symptoms to kinda give you an idea.
Intense spinal pain, sharp or grating depending on the day. And my spinal pain can be in the lower half of my back or upper half from my neck down to the bottom of my bra area.
Ear ringing
Feeling super hot in the face for no reason.
Paresthesia like sudden coldness in my legs, itching, burning, tingling. My legs legit go to sleep while I'm standing up doing the dishes. Fun times.
Tingling and itching in my torso.
Gait issues. Some days my walking is fine with minor disturbances. Days like today I walk like a complete freaking drunken oaf.
Numbness in my face
Itching in my palms to where i could claw my skin off.

And not all of these symptoms appear at the same time. Some days I have itching in my palms and gait issues. Some days I have zero gait issues but intense itching in my legs.
Some days I have spinal and neck pain with ear ringing but I can walk fine.

Take it in strides.Don't hope for MS. And you can usually tell MS from migraines because migraine people have normal reflexes and strength and don't have bowel or bladder dysfunctions. Hope for the best. Migraines are easier than MS.

It frustrating to hear your body can have a tantrum for headaches but its better than your immune system attacking your own body like a foreign matter. So far that's what they think I have. So maybe I can be of some comfort to you that's probably what you have if pain reliever takes away the symptoms. See your doctor about other options besides constantly having to take pain medication for your symptoms. Apparently that's not a good idea.

Anyway it doesn't clear up my symptoms but that's why I still have to see a neuro. =\ Best of luck.  

[ZeeZee2016]

Well, something's going on with Aleve.

I was diagnosed with asymptomatic MS about seven years ago, but never had any physical symptoms  (which means I have dozens of specialists who regularly test, poke and puncture me with alarming zeal).  I have lesions in my brain exactly where they would be for classical MS and also elevated proteins, but have never had any of the classical MS physical symptoms, and I'm 49.  

But here's the rub.  I also have a shoulder injury that can't be fixed, so I have been on Aleve twice a day for about a decade.  

We stopped the Aleve for some gastro test two weeks ago, and now my legs are rapidly becoming blocks of wood.  It's scary as hell.  

I'm going into Boston tomorrow for MRIs, a spinal and all sorts of fun junk, but I'm telling the doctors that with or without their approval I'm going to start taking the Aleve again by the end of this week.  

My guess is that the anti-inflammatory properties of the nsaid somehow suppressed the symptoms of the MS.  That would be in keeping with the use of steroids for MS, which also are anti-inflammatory, right?

And given the natural variation of different people's physiology, Aleve worked to suppress the inflammation of MS for me, but it won't necessarily do the same thing for other people.  I have never taken steroids for MS (I was asymptomatic) but when prescribed them for other reasons, I didn't tolerate them well.

And let's be very clear.  I'm not a doctor or medical professional.  In no way am I offering medical advice, or anything other than an anecdote.  There may very well be something else going on (tumor or pinched nerve are possibilities) so I'll offer up an entire pound container of salt with this post.  

[calamfred]

I have had migraines since my teens. I also have Lupus, IC, and RTA.

My husband has MS, Addisons, and Polyendocrinopathy.

I can say that NSAIDS have never helped my migraines. I have both types, with and without auras. The only thing that will help mine is an Imitrex shot. I used to get them without fail twice a month, hormonally. Since my hysterectomy, they are more brought on by fatigue and Lupus exacerbation..and thankfully are much decreased.

With this being said, there are as many varieties of symptoms on diseases as there are people. So of course what works for one, well...you know..

I like that we can all come here and talk about our experiences and just give and get support. When one is on the "medical merry-go-round" just having support can be a huge deal! Of course your Dr should be your main support.

My hubby is like Immi, he takes Ibuprofen on the nights he also has his Betaseron shot, as a preventive measure for the flu like symptoms that can occur.

He also takes the 1000 mg Solumedrol, once a month...and he drinks it...YUCK!

As Immi said, steroids being the big guns, and not without se's of their own..My hubby just had a titanium rod put in his femur fractured in a fall.. He is on daily replacement steroids due to his Addisons as well as the Solumedrol..and thinning brittle bones are se's of steroids.

Karry is so right in that doing your research can be a big help for you as well as your Neuro.

I hope you get some solid answers soon, and things work out well for you. It sounds like you have a Neuro who is willing to check things thoroughly, which is a big help.

Let us know how you do.

Regards,
C

[essdipity]

I don't know what's causing your symptoms but I doubt it's MS. I too have never heard of NSAIDS being effective for any MS symptoms. I have had them take the edge of some things, such as muscle cramps. But as a treatment, no.

ess

[karryon55]

I thought the lesions were in the parietal lobe but periventricular is an MS area as well as migraine territory. When you said that your symptoms are improving with the NSAID this made me immediately think migraines to be honest. This is often what a Neuro will say "do the symptoms settle when taking an abortive treatment?" & NSAID are just that for many people.

I also wanted to add that if the Neuro suggests migraines in the long run you should have a repeat MRI in the near future. As I said before sometimes Neuro's throw the migraines theory around a bit too much for my liking but sometimes this is warranted. I just thought you should research a bit before you go back because if you still are feeling this could not be migraines then you can back this up with research you have done. :-)

Karry.

[tedtheo]

Karry, thanks a lot for the info on migranes, i didnt know there were silent ones, neither my neuro mentioned them. I will research this more in dept. As for the 2 lesions, mri report said they were non specific periatrial, but neuro looked at the images and said they are periventricular which is a type that can be seen in MS. They were not ligthing up in contrast though, so what we dont know is did the lesions came with the syptom onset, or were they there because of some other ailment like migranes, way before my sensory symptoms.

[karryon55]

I was originally told that I could be getting silent migraines as one of the possible causes of my symptoms so I did a fair amount of research into the subject. I have seen your exact comment about NSAID on health boards countless times. If the anti inflammatory is relieving you of your symptoms then you are most likely having migraines with or without headaches in my opinion & I am not a doctor rather a person with MS and migraines. I think your 2 lesions were in an area that is not specific to MS & "could" be from migraines. Your symptoms are also quite typical for a complicated migraine.

If you are taking NSAD's daily as well you may be getting what they call rebound migraines. I think you should look into the types of migraines & how they can effect people rather than dismissing it immediately. I am not always supportive of Neuro's throwing around the whole "oh it's migraines" left, right & centre. However I do think that this Neuro is seeing something here & you should give them the benefit of doubt & at least have some research up your belt before you return for follow up.

I am sorry if this is coming across as direct but I feel for you & would like to see you find the cause of your symptoms. This can only happen if you look at "all" possibilities that your Neuro is putting forth. It may not be migraines at all of course & at this early stage it could be many things. Only time will tell.

Good luck with your upcoming appt.

Karry.

[immisceo]

As you said, this is best addressed to your doctor, but I've never heard of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs being beneficial for either the pain caused by MS damage or other MS symptoms.

When we relapse, we are often given actual steroids; straight-up, no chaser.  These are the big dogs, because other options are not as effective. We are tethered to IV bags for appointments over 3-5 consecutive days whilst 1000mg per day pumps in— a total of 3-5 Grams, no "milli", of methylprednisolone per course.

These are hardcore, not without side effects on their own and are thus used sparingly (as in, it's the rare neuro you'll find who prescribes them at regular intervals as the risk-benefit ratio blurs a tad with frequent use).

I was told by my neurologist to take NSAIDS, but that was when I began treatment with my disease modifying drug. The medication can cause flu-like symptoms when you begin, so it was for my comfort alone. No mention was ever made about it being for symptom control related to MS itself.

I am delighted you are finding relief from Aleve, but it seems it would be due to and characteristic of the intended function of that medication.

Perhaps others will chime in with their own perspectives and information.