[Desinie]

Anyone notice any help from a relapse from oral steroids? The past two weeks or so I've noticed my left leg which is my weaker side getting noticably weaker. I also have pain in my sacral area. My word recall has also worsened.

Anyhow, I call the neuro early last week, hear back from his nurse 2 days later. She informs me my neuro is out ( again, I think he's partially retired) until next Monday (today), but that the covering neuro wants me to get a urinalysis first. If it's negative, he said he'll order steroids. So I get the U/A with C &S last week. I got up early this morning and call back for the results. It was negative, so I immediately call the neuro's nurse, tell her the results and my symptoms again. Four or so hours later, I get a call back from my neuro. He said he'd order oral steroids and if they worked we'd know it was the MS causing my symptoms. Huh? I mean I do have mild degenerative changes in my thoracic spine, but that's not new. That showed up in my MRI of the spine back in November. It has been quite hot here,in the 90's the past 3 days or so, which doesn't help things. I've never taken steroids in any form, even though I've been diagnosed 10 years this September, so I'm a bit worried of side effects, if it'll help etc. So again, have any of you taken oral steroids alone and found they helped? Thanks so much in advance!

[Koala77]

Hi Desinie,

I've been diagnosed with MS for over 30 years now, and I'm sure you're aware that IV MethylPred wasn't thought of way back then. Even the ABC drugs weren't invented until the late 70's or early 80's, so all of my early exacerbations were treated with oral Prednisolone, and I always got better.

So, oral does work.

I did get more side effects with the oral form than I got with the IV version (having had both), but I personally think that has something to do with the time that some-one is on the medication.

IV Methylpred is over in 3-5 days, where oral is administered in a tapering dose....usually over 3-4 weeks.

I always blew up more with the moon face and the flluid retention on oral than I did on IV. In fact, for me the only side effect on IV was the horrid taste in my mouth, and a racing heart..... but others have more side effects than I did.

[Desinie]

This is for 6 days starting out at 6 pills of 4mg tapering by one pill each day. Thanks Anne for the reply, I so appreciate it. I sooo hope this helps. This is the first I've given in to steroids of any form.

[Kitty]

I've taken the Prednisone Medpack before and it's helped me greatly.

I try not to take steroids any more often than I absolutely have to because of the side effects and the negative impact it has on your bones.

I hate the puffy face and water weight gain!

[Desinie]

That's why I haven't taken them in the past. Motly because of the effects it can have on our bones. I already know I have osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis. I'm on Calcium and Vitamin D3 and have been for years. I just hate this and I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. Honestly, I think I would have gone crazy without having all of you to comiserate with and get advice from! I truly, truly appreciate all of you!! I am way too vain for all of this lol

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by Desinie

That's why I haven't taken them in the past. Motly because of the effects it can have on our bones. I already know I have osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis. I'm on Calcium and Vitamin D3 and have been for years. I just hate this and I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. Honestly, I think I would have gone crazy without having all of you to comiserate with and get advice from! I truly, truly appreciate all of you!! I am way too vain for all of this lol

I know the feeling. I just figure I'll have to put up with the side effects and look like a Cabbage Patch Doll or look normal and not be able to do anything! What a choice!

[Desinie]

Yeah, Kelly,
I'm hoping it's the lesser of two evils!

[sabimax]

undx but yes I have done oral steroids for my sxs when big enough flares... and it helps tremendously. I had to take them in January and then in february... almost started some in March when bad off enough to miss work... but waited it out that time. Not wanting to be on it so much... but yes YES good effects from it for my sxs. hugss,sarah

[Debbie D]

I was on IV and oral...I seem to get too many side effects from the oral, so my old neuro didn't prescribe them anymore. I was doing monthly IVSM, and I would feel better for about 2 wks, then the sxs would slowly return.
My new neuro told me no more; he feels it doesn't help the sxs and that it fries the brain. I don't agree with him, but I'm at the end of a flare that lasted about 5 months with pain and spasms.
If it helps, I'd go ahead and use 'em...and everyone knows we're all cuter with those cabbage patch cheeks...

[jackD]

Last time I reviewed the med literature (mostly NIH abstracts) it seemed that oral steroids alone was NOT recommended and that even the taper was unnecessary and that the oral steroids made Optic Neuritis worse over time.

jackD