Recovery time

[scottjacksonato]

When you were diagnosed, what were you're symptoms and severity of them and how long did it take for you to recover from them?

[SNOOPY]

Hello scottjacksonato and welcome to MSWorld.

Recovery time can vary from person to person.

At the time I was diagnosed I was in a severe exacerbation (relapse, attack, flare-up). Diagnostic process took about 3 months with the exacerbation remaining the same during the process.

Symptoms:

- bi-lateral leg weakness
- buzzing/vibrations from the waist down
- tingling/pins and needles (legs & feet)
- hand tremors
- extreme fatigue
- severe pain
- LHermitte's sign
- mobility compromised/difficult to walk or get around.
- numb from the waist down

Once diagnosed I was put on oral Prednisone and improvement seen at 4 to 6 weeks.

Actual recovery took longer (several months).

[22cyclist]

It took some time to diagnose me, but that was on me. They told me to get an MRI because they suspected MS when I developed trigeminal neuralgia (TN). I was young, and thought, phhh, no way, I don't have MS. I am not doing all that.

So my first major flare was:

1. Weakness in my left side both arm and leg.
2. Major pain in the right side of my face (TN).
3. Foot drop in my left leg.
4. Lhermitte's sign.

I was given an MRI (brain, spine), was diagnosed, and given a 5-day course of IVSM. On the first day of steroids I began to feel better, but it took me about 2 weeks for everything to go away and for me to feel "normal" again.

I was started on Copaxone.

Sometimes it takes a while for the IV steroids to work, but eventually they will.

Take care
Lisa
Moderation Team

[KatieAgain]

I had only one symptom when I was diagnosed, Central Dizziness. Apparently, I also had a bout of Optic Nueritis too, but never knew I had it. Took only about three months for a diagnosis.

The Central Dizziness is a permanent symptom and is controlled by a benzo. If it turns into flat out Central Vertigo, only IV Steroids can solve the issue. My Neuros are therefore very vigilant about keeping the Central Dizziness maintained.

I have had only two major flares that actually brought me to my knees and incapacitated. For the first, there was no drug that helped, and I had to wait it out and that took close to 5 months. I was paralyzed during this episode, I could not even hold a pencil in my hand. I have three digits on my left hand that I can not feel from that flare. And I lost total ability to run and my gait has changed. That is permanent.

I have recently come out of a flare two days ago, which lasted two months and ON was present. IV steroids helped a lot. Thought there was going to be residuals, but I got lucky and all seems well. So it seems nothing permanent.

I agree with previous poster, even if you have IV Steroids it takes a few weeks to get total relief. Although, the ON went away with the first infusion.

Minor flares with all those little irritating symptoms, I ignore.