Hi Ana,
Let's think about this. You said your back spasms are worse when laying down and sleeping. You are not a large person. You said 127 lbs and 5'4".

Could it be your mattress? Maybe some extra padding, better support, or a Memory foam topper? Just a thought. When I lay down I wake to these pains too.

Since I bought the foam, 2 inch topper, the bones that stick out on my back get relief. I have large bones, but I am thin too.

Just thinking of other ideas. I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you for your response! I guess my bed could be a possibility. I only get relief when I lay down, I have back muscle spasms when I am sleeping never while I am awake.. I am waiting to hear back from my neuro hopefully he calls back today.

Do you have a cane or some other aid to help you balance? I rarely use my cane anymore except when I go out to places like a restaurant or somewhere I don't have a shopping cart to hold onto.

You know I have been told by a few people to use a cane when I'll be out walking to help support my body and not put as much strain on my body, and also to use a wheel chair on long days where I'll be on my feet all day. I haven't done these two things as I feel that will be giving up my mobility? It scares me.
But
Maybe I'll start doing so because it seems it will buy me more time in life out of a wheel chair.

Sooooo I talked to the nurse at the MS Clinic. She said it most definitely sounds like a flare so I get another 16-day Prednisone treatment. Sucks alot, but at least it will put my MS in check, I just feel I have had faaaaaar too much prednisone in my body this last year of my life. I'm bummed about it but at least it will heal the damage being done at this time.. Thanks again for all your concerns! And also thanks for the support beause honestly without you guys I would have stayed in this flare without medication...

Thanks again!

Ana

Ana, when you are in a flare, you have inflamation and Steroids help to calm that and thus, sometimes, shorten the flare...but...Steroids are not a cure of any kind for your MS.

It stopped working for me after about the third time, so I avoid steroids now.

Be sure you check for a UTI before starting steroids. A UTI can emulate a flare and steroids will make a UTI worse.

Hi Ana; I'm new to this posting also but might be able to help.

You probably need to strengthen your core muscles which support your body. The best way is to find a Yoga instructor (local MS Chapter can help) and work those muscles daily to keep them from letting your body down. A strong body core is essential. I've been through what you are experiencing and Yoga was the only thing that worked for me. Hope this helps you too.
Have a great day, John

Hi Ana. Welcome to the group!

I'm not really one to offer any suggestions with your back issues so I'll refrain from making any. Just wanted to welcome you to the group.

16 day prednisone treatment? Oral? What's the dosage? This doesn't sound in line with other steroid based treatments I've heard about.

My wife's decision to swap from a water bed to one of those really really expensive mattress/box spring jobs improved my sleeping, but in reality I've never had much of an issue with back pain/spasms. It's mostly my legs for me.

Okay, I can't refrain... I'm 5 months shy of 23 years with MS. I still basically live/work/play a normal life. I attribute my avoidance to beer and bar-b-q! But I'm weird...

Again, welcome.

Tom

Amen Brother. Beer and BBQ'd ribs. The best therapy around. John

Hey there everyone!

The nurse asked the same about the UTI and I don't have any symptoms of that so they went ahead and put me on the Prednisone.
It's a 16 day treatment with 10 mg pills (also got the fluconzale to help with the nasty thrush that prednisone gives off) starting with 6 for 4 days then 4 for 4 2 for 4 1 for 4. Is that a different dosage than you've had?

Also this is my first time back on prednisone since last fall, altogether since my diagnosis 2/8/09 I have been on prednisone 6 times and I have had 2 3 day IV treatments along with one 5 day IV treatment. I feel like I am too fresh into MS to have that many steroids, but I would assume my neuro knows what he is doing... right?

Thanks for all the support everybody! And I will be sure to check in with my MS chapter about yoga.. I so didn't know they could help with that and yoga has been something I have really wanted to look into.

So thanks again everyone! Hope you all have a great day!