New to MS came on strong

[Eyester]

On January 16 I had vision fog, loss of speech and right side numbness and balance issue. Initially I was think to be having a stroke and treated as such. I was sent to rehab but did not improve. 1 week later while still in rehab I had a similar episode and brought back to ER for what they figured was another stroke. It was a different hospital and the neurologist quickly realized that it was not stoke after viewing the MRI compared to the one I had a week before I had several lesions. I was given all the test blood work , spinal and treated with IV steroids. I responded well and was sent back to rehab. I have since had two more attacks. One in March and one this past Thursday that sent me back into the hospital for more steroids. It has been 5 months and I am not getting better. Us this common? When does the remission come? The doctor in the ER let on that I may have a progressive form but for now they just call it MS. I take copoxane now it's been a month and baclofen for these awful pains in my legs. I also now take Zoloft since I am so depressed. I am working but miss a lot and it is a challenge just to get through the day. I basically live to work right now. I carry the insurance and make the better salary. Has anyone experienced this? One day it's just there. I used to run, and ride a motorcycle now I feel lost.

[SNOOPY]

Hello Eyester and welcome to MSWorld.

Do you have a Neurologist or are you just seeing the Neurologist on call in the ER?

How often a person has an exacerbation (attack, flare-up, relapse) can vary. Some have a lot, some have very few and others fall somewhere in between.

It has been 5 months and I am not getting better.

Unfortunately, there is no time frame for when a person's MS will calm down...if it does.

When does the remission come?

There is no time frame This happens differently for each person.

Remission is a term which is outdated and incorrect when talking about MS, although many Drs. will still use the term.

In MS remission is simply not doing as bad as when you were in a relapse. Remissions can be complete (no symptoms) or partial (residual symptoms, symptoms that come and go) with partial being the most common.

I am a little concerned with the amount of steroids you have been given in a relatively short time (3 times in 5 months?).

Steroids are used for exacerbations, not all exacerbations require steroids.

Steroids do not affect the course of the disease or change what the disease may or may not do. Steroids might help shorten an exacerbation but not always.

The more steroids are used the less effective they become.

About exacerbations:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Tre...aging-Relapses

I used to run, and ride a motorcycle now I feel lost.

I'm sorry Give yourself time to grieve and patience to see how your disease course will play out.

My first exacerbation, which got me diagnosed, was very difficult. My mobility was the most affected and my fight was trying to regain mobility.

It took a lot of tears, pain, exhaustion, and frustration but I finally did it. It took me close to a year and then at the one year mark I had my second exacerbation.

Once again I had to go through the same process to try and regain my mobility once again.

Take care.

[KatieAgain]

I too like Snoopy lost my ability to walk because of a flare. Months later and a lot of pain and tears...I did remit and I had to therapy to learn to walk.

Are you seeing an MS Specialist? If not, I would probably find one to see if you can get things slowed down a bit.

[Chowda]

Kinda like me maybe.

My gp had tests done and found out I didn't have cancer, diabetes, a tumour etc. and referred me to a neurologist.

One brain MRI and one evoked potential test and I was diagnosed. The term advanced was used. He referred me to another neuro because I was really bad and he needed further assessment.

New neuro set me up for Tysabri and she was right, I had it so severe I can't have a remission without something like Ty

Walking better now. 2013 is a blur to me

[Eyester]

Thank you for your responses. I do have a neurologist at the ms clinic at the hospital. I am not happy with them, as Snoopy said the amount if steroids is scary. I just assume they know what I need.