I can't speak to any nerve damage or anything, but I will again mention my experience with prednisone.

In my experience and based on what my pharmacist told me, it takes about 3 days for the prednisone to start working and then its effects are felt for about 3 days after the last dosage.

Given you were on a low dose starting at 24 mg, you might have a different experience.

Steroids like prednisone mimic the body's natural anti inflammatory substances. They halt the body's auto immune response, which is why you can become more susceptible to getting sick while on prednisone. (Usually for a longer course and higher dose)

As I've posted before, I feel way better when I'm on the high doses of prednisone, I'm still light sensitive and have headaches and everything, but it seems like everything is minimized and I get so much energy.

With the Valtrex was the doctor thinking Epstein Barr?
Starr