Recovery from an Attack

[DeviRice29]

Hello, I was recently diagnosed on July 26th with MS via MRI’s, spinal tab, blood work, etc.  I left the hospital on August 1st after a course of IV steroids.  Basically,  I am looking to straighten out my timeline. Near mid May, I experienced sensory symptoms in my legs that moved to my buttocks but disappeared ( symptom free) throughout June. Starting July 5th,  the sensory symptoms returned to my legs, arm (right),  chest, back,  and stomach. Stiffness started out in the legs in early July as well. But  by July 24th, the stiffness mostly went away in my legs and went to my arm, and upper body.

I have read that most healing takes place within 4 weeks of an episode and may continue for about six months, and what remains, remains. I am curiously about when I begin my countdown. Do I begin in at the start of May, start of July, end of May, July 24th the last change in symptoms or when I finished the IV steroids? Was June a remission so do I have two episodes, or is this all one exacerbation. Just curious when the recovery clock began? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[Lulu54]

Hi and welcome to theMS forum here - I hope you will stick around with us.  This is a very smart and compassionate community.

First, let me tell you that I'm sorry you have this MiSerable disease, but assure you it can usually be manageable.  The best weapon you have to control this MonSter is education - learn all you can.  Which is what you are doing by asking this question....

Your question is somewhat hard to answer, because we usually don't return back to what you might consider normal after an attack.  With MS we are constantly shifting what our "normal" might be.  For many, after an attack/flare/exacerbation (all those terms are used interchangeable) they are left with new lingering symptoms. This is where "what remains, remains" fits into the picture.

How long it takes to heal is unpredicatable.  Some people recover quickly while others may have problems that linger for months.  I wouldn't start a recovery clock based on the calendar prediction.  I would wait until that day when I suddenly realize "aha! I feel good/better today."   When it happens, you do recognize it because feeling better is such a nice sensation.  

As for feeling better after steroids, I just had a round for the first time, myself.  They did not schedule a recheck with the doctor until a month out because they said it would take at least that long for the steroids to finish working and my body to adjust to whatever my new normal is going to be.  

I can tell you that just this week I had that "I feel good" moment that I just told you about.  That was two weeks after my steroids were started.  My flare, though, was being caused by a UTI that was resolved through antibiotics, and a faster recovery could be anticipated.

I think I am now rambling, so let me again welcome you here and close.  I hope we will see you again.  

be well, Lulu

[HVAC]

There are no hard and fast rules to MS. If your symptoms are caused by inflammation when it subsides the symptoms will. If your symptoms are caused by nerve damage they can be permanent. No one know enough about MS to predict what is what.

Lets just hope for the best. No cases of MS are exactly alike.

Alex