optical neuritis / inflammation -- any treatments?

[jean_619]

Hi all,

I am going through a "minor" bout with optical neuritis.  During ON, the optic nerve is inflammed, right?  In that case, is there anything over the counter I can take or anything I can do to reduce the inflammation?  It hasn't reached the point of needing a steroid treatment, but if I can do anything to alleviate it myself, I'd like to.

Thanks,
Jean

[zoefromsussex]

Hi, sorry for the delayed comment but I've only just seen your post! I had a severe bout on ON in my right eye which started in Oct and still only have limited vision in the eye. I got a 2nd bout of ON in my other eye recently but nowhere near as severe and I have started regaining the sight in that eye, albeit very blurry and devoid of colour. Anyway, to answer your quuestion, no I don't think there is much you can do to help yourself here other than resting & avoiding strenuous exercise during the peak of the ON. I've noticed that there is quite a difference in the way steroids are used here in the UK. I was told I could start steroids if I wanted to but all they would do was shorten the initial severity and would not help the longterm vision/symptons. So I had a pretty horrible time the first time round and this time round I decided not to bother with steroids and I will be starting Copaxone later this year (gotta wait to finish b/feeding!) Take care

[dogmum]

I had a recent bout with ON as well.  I'd have to say, nothing that I did really provided any obvious help, but I did try everything that some experienced ON veterans suggested and eventually I did start feeling better.  The suggestions were:

Polarized sunglasses (I found a pair of prescription glasses to wear even in the house.  Although I look ridiculous, this seems like it helped more than anything.  At the very least, it reduces the strain on my eyes and does no harm.)

Ginger (I started drinking hot water with lemon juice, plenty of fresh sliced ginger, and honey instead of coffee.  Ginger is not a drug, obviously, but it is a natural anti-inflammatory.)

These is nothing like a good dose of steroids, but did seem to help me to some extent while I was waiting to hear from my docs.  I hope you feel better soon.  

[Sidesteps]

I was told that 800 mg of ibuprophen every 8 hours will help the pain and sx. It is a strong anti-imflammatory. You would want to ask your doctor specificallly and how long you can continue this without risk.

My experience was similar to DV's.  I would have rated the pain at an 8. The vision became blurry before the pain, then the pain hit and lasted about 4 days. I also had other symptoms leading up to it and some weird facial symptoms at the same time.

The ophthmalogist would not have treated my ON with IVSM because my vision was relatively good but my MSologist felt it was an acute flare and treated. My Neuro-ophthmalogist would have treated the ON alone.

My treatment started about a week after my ON. The pain had subsided by then so the reasons were different. If you are experiencing any other symptoms it is important to report those to your Neuro. I am VERY glad they treated me. I had a very positive response. I still have intermittent blurring/dimmness in that eye but many of the other symptoms are much much better.

[doublevision1]

Sorry to hear about the ON.  I know of nothing other than IVSM in order to reduce this kind of inflammation.  What are your ON symptoms?  Are you experiencing much pain?  Did your neuro indicate how severe it would need to be for IVSM to be considered?

My one experience with MS was miserable, but short-lived which my docs attribute to IVSM.  My vision in one eye became cloudy one day, and if that was as bad as it had gotten I wouldn't have sought treatment and would have rode it out with time.  However later in the same day it started, it became extremely painful, and any slight eye movement was like a sharp dagger repeated stabbing my eyeball.  One of the most painful experiences I've ever had.  I went to the ER and started a 5 day course of IVSM at 4am the day after onset; the pain was relieved quickly, within a day or so, and the cloudy vision within a few days.  The following month my neuro-ophthalmologist could see no evidence of residual damage.

In my case IVSM was needed, because of the pain.  I do think IVSM should be used sparingly and avoided if symptoms of a flare are tolerable, as I understand they can lose effectiveness over time with excessive use, and of course to minimize the risk of long term side effects such as osteoporosis.

I wish there was something else to offer up some relief, but I know of nothing that will help.  I hope your ON clears up soon and that in the meantime it's not making you feel too miserable.

[jean_619]

Unfortunately, the doc won't put me on steroids because it isn't severe enough yet.  So I was wondering if there was something I could do to reduce the inflammation.  

[Sidesteps]

They treated mine with 5 days of IVSM. My vision was only minority impacted but she felt I was in a flare. It helped my chronic symptoms and the ON.

I don't know. I am sort of a believer in some good old fashion logic with this treatment. Like asthma, the inflammation causes scars, if you reduce the inflammation it causes less damage. We may not be able to tell the difference (because we have no idea how to measure that) but any significant reduction helps prevent long term damage. I feel comfortable with IVSM for those reasons.

I'd talk to your doctor.

[sllowe]

Hi Jean,

Sorry for the ON :( What did the doc say?
The steroids could shorten your course w/it :(
But, I understand not wanting to take them.