[KittyLady]

Past 3 days Ive been having this severe pain in the front part of my upper legs. Feels like Im getting either pinched really hard or sometimes like a pin being dragged up and down the leg. Very painful. In the shower I tried shaving my legs and with every stoke of the razor, I had electric shocks going up and down my lower legs. I had to stop.

Ive been having a really hard time walking lately too. I have been using my cane more, but the past 3 or 4 days Ive been having to use my walker. Ive actually fallen a few times lately trying to use just my cane. Im getting those little electric shock swirls in my finger tips again. I havent had those in about 2 months and now the past few days they are back again. Im really hoping Im not starting another flare. Im getting scared. I know there's alot of sensory problems with MS, but they are like all coming at me at once and this part is new to me.

[Blessings2You]

Call your neurologist! Mine ALWAYS says to let him know about any new or worsening symptoms.

[Kitty]

Sounds like some sort of sensory thing going on. If you've never had this particular symptom before make a note of it and the date it started. I always forget to do that and then I can't remember when it started. It's always god to be able to tell the Neuro how long something lasted. All my Neuro ever did was tell me to take steroids, which I wouldn't, so I usually just rode things out till they passed.

[SallyC]

A possible flare, KL? Check with ur Doc to see what's going on. Feel better soon, please..

[KittyLady]

Neuro said it could be a flare. Says he's not too concerned as Ive only been on copaxone for 3 months, he said he'd switch meds if Id been on it 6 months or more and flared. He wants me to do ivsm or acthar gel. I do not handle ivsm well at all, and seriously, this time, Id rather wait it out. Im so sick of being poked, slamming pills, doctors office everyday then every month. Im tired.

Ive done more for this disease in the past 7 months than Ive done in my whole 20yr history of having MS. I just want to sleep and wake up and it all be ok again. Not likely, but Im in the dreaming and wishing stage I guess. Im missing the old me from just 8 months ago. Working, driving, running, walking, and more importantly... laughing. Im just depressed about another flare. This makes it 3 flares in 7 months. Ive never had this many so close. I normally had 1 flare a year, and they were very mild. Now, every flare is disabling.

[Dejibo]

copaxone can take UP TO one year to start working well. I was one of those that took the full year.

My MD wants to know about any NEW or reoccurring symptom that lasts for at least 24 hours straight with no breaks. We then get to play the "do you want steroids with that" game. They told me you have 10 days to start steroids. After 10 days the recovery rate is exactly the same as someone who didnt get the steroids.

I try to reserve steroids as there is a price to pay for them. I use them for Optic nerve stuff or really bad stuff.

I hope you feel better quick.

[NurseNancy]

i'm curious to know if you've had a recent mri? did it show active disease?
were you on meds prior to the copaxone? what has your treatment been so far.

that may help you make some decisions about your current tx.

[KittyLady]

NurseNancy, I was on beta 10yrs ago for about 9 months and I was having reactions to it, so I stopped and hadnt been on any other meds until 3 months ago when I started copaxone. I have been lucky, in that I havent had bad flares or anything during these 20yrs, that is until this past October and December. I now know the pain that goes along with this disease. Ive been on baclofen and amitriptyline since December. I did 4 weeks of steroids and I had a bad reaction to it. I told my neuro that I will not be doing ivsm anymore. He's not happy, but understood and then he suggested acthar gel and Im still apprehensive. I can't do an MRI right now, because I have no insurance. I lost it when I lost my job in December. Im on ssdi but dont qualify for medicare and medicaid for 2 years. NMSS will not pay for a mri because Im already dx, that is per the NMSS, I looked into it.