Hi everyone.
I'm new to this forum on medhelp and would really appreciate opinions on people in the know as I'm on my 2nd day of a my first 3-day run of Solu-Medrol (1000mg) and am a little concerned.
I've read lots about the various side effects but I'm still not sure about what's going on with me.
I'll try to keep this short but a brief history.
1st attack - 1997 - numbness in extremeties and my skin was numb all over from the neck down. Lasted about 5 weeks. MRI was clear. Was not diagnosed as MS.
2nd attack - early 2004 - slight double vision. Lasted about 3 weeks. MRI of the brain showed spots. Was told was likely MS.
3rd attack - mid 2006 - numbness in skin (not all over) and fingertips. MRI showed more spots with some previous ones gone. Fingertip numbness still with me today.
4 days ago - double vision came back. Did another MRI with contrast. Seems I have more spots gone (compared to 2006) and 3 new ones. All are apparently very small. One was 'active' as per the contrast and so my neuro had me go on the Solu-Medrol.
Btw - my neuro is not convinced that my '06 attack was an attack and thinks my fingertip numbness is from Carpal Tunnel which I do have but I'm not convinced due to the numbness I had in '06 and the fact that it's all five fingers that are numb.
Anyway, that's besides the point.
The thing is, day 1 of Sol-Med went fine. It just made my neck feel a bit weak and my head was a bit heavy. Did it at 4pm. Woke up next morning at 7am (way early for me) and my arms from the elbows down felt heavy but also as if I needed to weight them down due to mild discomfort. Does that make sense? I sleep on my back and tried tucking my hands under my bum to 'hold down' my arms but it didn't help the discomfort. Fell back asleep and woke up at 8am and found my legs felt the same from the knees down. Fell asleep again and got up at 9am and within half an hour it felt worse and I started to worry. but then a half hour later it was entirely gone!
Then at 4pm did my second day of Sol-Med and my neck again felt weak and my head heavy. Now, 7 hours later they feel the same.
What is this?
I'm worried because I do have a bad back and neck and have always thought it was just that... a bad back and neck... for which I need and do receive chiropractic care. Now I'm worried that it's MS related and there isn't a damned thing I can do about it. If it is MS related, would the steroids bring it out? If not, could it be that the steroids can simply have a temporary effect on weaker muscles in the body? It WAS temporary yesterday because I woke up and my neck and head were fine but since I did the second lot, it's back.
Any thoughts on this would be deeply appreciated.
Many thanks, in advance.
magda