Hi all...hey, those of you who have taken oral prednisone for the 15 day taper...
how long was it before your sxs returned? I was practically symptom free from mid Dec. until about a month ago, and now I'm twitching, spasming and tingling like crazy again. The neuropathic pain is back, too, and it's the hold-your-breath and hang on 'til it's over kind again. And don't get me started on the bladder problems...
Grrr...if it weren't for the danger, and the weight gain, I'd love to stay on the 'roids forever!

What dosage did you have? The only time I did oral roids, it was a 5 day treatment @ 600 mg per day. One time I did it with no taper and then the next time I did a taper.

It was about 2 - 3 years ago when I last had oral roids, so it is kind of hard to remember exactly. I know that I did an oral treatment in October and by February I was in really bad shape and had to do another one. I don't remember after that one how long the improvement lasted.

I have only used the IV but my neuro told me 6-8 weeks after the sx could return. I'm not sure if it is the same with orals. I think Yeahbut's neuro just told her the same thing.

I **** the bladder issues. That is when I know I am going to have doozy of a flare when that starts.

Good luck to you!

Thanks for replying. For the life of me, I can't remember the dosage.

Hi, Debbie.

Your symptoms are sensory and steroids, if they work, can be just a temorary solution. Many times steroids are not even prescribed for sensory symptoms.

You might talk to your neuro about symptom management meds that might help with your symptoms.

Snoopy,
I thought sensory sxs were things like the neuropathic pain and the tingling. Are the fasciculations and twitching sensory also?
I am on Gabapentin and Cymbalta for the neuropathic pain, and requip for RLS. What other drugs could help?
Also, are spasms sensory? They've returned also, mainly in the back and legs.
I don't know why this is confusing me today.

I really don't like calling the neuro...he never calls back (I waited a week before going in to the office personally to get an answer about a neuropsych order that needed a code for the ins. co.).

Here's a list of our symptoms and how they are categorized (thanks AGAIN Cheryl ):

http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/mssymptoms.html

I haven't done steroids, so I don't know the answer to your question from experience. However, from what I've read of other people's experiences, sometimes the steroids seem to:

- knock any inflammation out (that might be causing symptoms) pretty much from the get-go
- cause the inflammation to retreat for a while, only to return several weeks later
- do nothing, either because they just aren't going to do anything in this instance . . . or sometimes because the symptoms are caused by "permanent" damage, or damage caused by infection

You said you are having bladder troubles ... are you having infections then? If so, you might need to take care of that problem first, before you see any improvement.

Cherie

Oops! No, spasms are not sensory. Spasms are part of spasticity and there are different meds you could try: Baclofen, Zanaflex, Klonopin (Clonazepam) and I believe there are other meds I'm forgetting.

Here is more information about spasticity -
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/abo...ity/index.aspx

I think the confusion comes from the fact that our spinal lesions often (or always?) cause the sensory stuff . . . and spasticity seems to come on bad (at least for me) when they are active too.

Cherie

Spasticty for me is stiffness in my legs and back. This is pretty constant with or without active lesions. Exercise/stretching helps me.

I rarely have spasms. And, yes in my case and probably yours it's the spinal lesions.