Quote:
Originally Posted by en bloc
I actually just left from an appt at Hopkins and was told that YES, a biologic can be used in conjunction with IVIG...but it is risky in my case because my use of IVIG is not just for neuropathy. I am immune deficient and therefore use of a biologic that further suppresses my already deficient immune system is very risky. But otherwise (for most other people), biologics can be used with IVIG according the inflammatory arthritis rheumy I saw today.
As for the bloods showing minimal inflammation...this is what I meant by the labs not being very accurate. They should not be relying on them to base your level of inflammation. The one week of steroids you got may not have even been enough to know whether it would have been helpful. How much did you receive daily?
Your neuropathy also may not be inflammatory based and that should be further documentation for the use of IVIG.
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Thankyou en bloc, really helpful as always, I appreciate it. :-)
The steroids tablets were 50mg I think. I took them for a week and the neuropathy was the same, but appreciate that it probably wouldn't miraculously disappear as nerve damage is nerve damage. I have an appointment this Friday at the gps to ask for a next stage pain med, I am going to ask for a corticosteroid shot to see what it does. If it helps all my other stuff that would be great. I have alot of pain in my face behind my eye and I now recall my neuro saying the last mri shiwed inflammation within the whole left side of ny face and sinus. I know I have inflammation everywhere from my other non neuropathy symptoms.
Sorry to go on about Ivig but do you know if its a non inflammatory mechanism behind the neuropathy whether ivig will then be of any use? My biopsy just showed outright reduction of nerves rather than inflammation.