Steroids are not "tylenol" for this disease, and as Harry and Snoopy have pointed out, the use of them is not to be taken lightly.

Please review the following information . . .

NMSS; steroids do not effect the course of the disease, and short and long-term effects of using them:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/doc...nm_relapse.pdf

NMSS: people treated with oral steroids for ON did not do as well as those who didn't, and the use of them caused an increased risk of recurrence:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/doc...onproblems.pdf

Optic Neuritis Treatment trial results:

http://www.nei.nih.gov/neitrials/vie...Web.aspx?id=47

Potential long and short-term side effects of steroid use:

Short term use:
- allergic reaction
- insomnia
- psychiatric disturbance
- stomach upset
- fluid retention
- increased appetite
- acne
- bone damage/avascular necrosis (although rare, it can occur even after a single dose of steroids)

Long-term use:
- weight gain
- high blood pressure
- cataracts
- hardening of the arteries
- diabetes
- life threatening infections
- osteoporosis, or other bone damage

Steroid Side Effects: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/methprd_ad.htm

Steroid Warnings: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/methprd_wcp.htm

Cherie

I have had tons of steroids and always bad short-term effects of swelling hands and feet, weight gain etc.


After my second cataract surgery (first one at 40yrs of age) and a bone density test that showed I have have a lot of damage I decided NO MORE steroids.


I got enough things going wrong and don't need to add to the list.

I had the steroids once (2 weeks of an oral prednisone taper)

I hated the side effects (constantly needing to go potty, stomachache, the opportunistic infections, and the bouncing off the walls)

Having said that tho, the reason why I took the steroids was because I had vertigo. Vertigo that would hit me with no warning, and would knock me to the floor and wouldnt let me get back up.

Vertigo is the worst symptom of MS that I've had so far. (2nd worst would be optic neuritis, but I never got steroids for that)

If I ever get the vertigo back (and I'm sure I will) I'll happily take the steroids for it, as long as it's IV steroids, I dont want to do the oral again if I dont have to. (I wonder if you have to do the oral taper after having the IV steroids?)

As much as I want to take a steroid for the occasional numb sensations, I wont ask my neuro for any unless it's a symptom that keeps me from having an everyday life. I'm saving the steroids for another major vision problem, vertigo, or a paralysis of any kind.

I can deal with numbness and pain and the other wacky carp that MS gives me. I may go a bit mad sometimes trying to deal with it, but I want to hold the steroids in reserve for bigger problems.