Avonex and leg weakness?
 

Is it possible that Avonex may be causing some leg weakness? The Avonex rep said that would most likely be a symptom of MS and not a side effect of Avonex.

It was my right leg that was the main problem before; but now I am having trouble with my left leg.:(

I am just wondering if anyone noticed an increase in any of their symptoms, especially leg weakness and stiffness, after starting their injections.

LA

I've been on it for the past few years and haven't noticed anything like that, beautiful. And if it continues I would definitely quiz my doc on it. Could be the shots, could be MS... could be something else that needs to be addressed. But here's hoping it's nothing major.:)

ABSOLUTELY I did. Yep. Honestly, sometime within 3 weeks of starting the avonex injections, I experienced gait problems ...best described as unsteadiness. I lost confidence in my ability to balance and be agile.

I called my neuro at that time, and also my injection nurse from biogen and they both told me it was very common to experience a subtle worsening of symptoms after beginning Avonex therapy. They also told me - WITH conviction - that the worsening of symptoms was temporary and would subside. ...and it did.

When I was on Avonex, I never had anything like that....a couple of times I felt extra extra tired....

I will be taking mhy 3rd dose in about an hour. :( I wish I could take the shot every two weeks.

For the frist two weeks so far I feel pretty good on Wednesday and Thursday then I start all over on Friday.

I will be taking 3/4 dose tonight. I am having some symptoms I didn't have before. But I am also feeling just a bit better in between.

I wonder if that is because of the Trileptal though. I think we could spend our whole life trying to figure this MS stuff out and never make a dent.

LA

I actually did have a problem with leg weakness and stiffness when I took Avonex, along with nasty joint and muscle pain. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's causing the symptoms but I do remember in the beginning the side effects from the shots were much worse until my body became somewhat adjusted to the med.

Hang in there and if it continues, you might want to run it by your doc.

I was basically asymptomatic and had no treatment for 9 years. During pregnancy, my feet were tingling and continued to do so after my baby was born. My neurologist suggested that I start injections - I was very reluctant. After much consideration, I decided to try Copaxone. I had horrible reactions to it so I was switched to Avonex. I have gone from being asymptomatic and very active to having leg weakness, loss of balance, incontinence, and general weakness since beginning treatment. Treatment was supposed to delay relapses (of which I hadn't had one in 9 years). I think I was much better off when I didn't take any medication but, of course, my neurologist disagrees that the treatment could be causing a change in my disease. I am looking for information from anyone that has also had worsening of symptoms since starting Avonex.

Wow, this is an old post from March! I am not having leg weakness after my injection any more.

I took shot number 35 this past week in my arm. :D

LA