Steroid dose for MS exacerbation

[Ctown]

Hello,

I've been in remission for the past 6 years until the past couple weeks where I've experienced a recurrance of a prior exacerbation (numbness ant tingling in entire right leg). My job is very demanding and I could not get away to see my neuro, so instead went to an urgent care where they prescribed me a medrol dose pak (21 tabs, 4 mg a piece) followed by an oral prednisone taper. I know this is probably not enough to make a dent in the exacperation, but can't take off an entire day to go to neuro and check into a hospital for the IV medrol. Are there any other options to manage this? Could my oral medrol pak be suffient?

thanks!

[opie74]

I do the home doseing. I can actually just call my neuro and tell him the symptoms.  His office sets up the home infusion.  They don't have to leave the IV in if you need it out to go to work.  They come and stick me each day.  The children would rip one out of my hand.

Call the doc.  If you have seen him in the past year or 6 mo, he might suprise you and see you after hours or just call it in for you.

Best to you,
ann

Ps.  My last 5 day 1gram dose ended last monday.  Now I have a cold and feaver.  Be careful!

[COBOB]

I do 1 Gm a day for 3 days IVSM at home.  It's about $400.  They start a heparin lock and I hook myself up.

Doses less than 500 mg per day have been shown to have limited effect in the level immunosupression required for MS pulse doses.

Bob

[sllowe]

Ctown,

How you making out? Did the medrol pack help? Sorry to hear of your relapse. I feel like Lisa and crwriter do that you need to slow down, and get some rest to help manage this. Sounds like that's not much of an option for you w/your job but I hope you can find some happy medium.

Let us know how your doing. Thanks for joining us,
Shell

[crwriter]

Oh man.  I understand your dilemma.  But sooner or later you will drop your demanding schedule because of this disease.  You have the choice of whether it comes sooner or later.  This means the best way to go is to take care of the disease now.  Physical infirmity follows at its own pace, and it is now your job to slow it down as much as possible.  It is your primary job.  I believe once you get your scheduling in place, you will find it easy to run rings around what you must do in both jobs - taking care of your health and your paycheck job.

This is just all my honest opinion.

[LisaJF]

From what I have heard, they like to do high dose IV Solumedrol and can only be done in the hospital setting during a MS exacerbation, especially if the MRI shows enhanced lesions.  That is my understanding -- I can be wrong.  I do not think the medrol dose pack could touch the effects that high doses of Solumedrol IV could do.

Your job will not allow you to take care of your health?  Are you out of personal time off  you can take or sick time?  

Please let us know!  

I'm sure someone else who has MS can answer this question better than I can -- I know there are plenty of people who could tell you if the medrol pack is sufficient.

Lisa