SPMS & starting Copaxone...good/bad idea?
Hi, I'll try to keep this brief as I can.
I have SPMS (started in 1998, diagnosed 2006). I have not been on any disease modifying drugs at all. I take baclofen for spasticity, and Advil for pain. I have had at least four IV steroids (solumedrol) over the past three years, but they're not as effective as they were the first time that I had them.
I started to get really bad in the last six months, but my neurologist thought it was best to hold off having steroids. He finally decided to give me an MRI, but it failed to show any new activity. Despite that, he allowed me to have IVSM. After three days of infusions, I was feeling a little bit stronger. However, I had that banding/tightness feeling in my chest/torso that was so severe that I called my doctor to ask for some kind of pain relief. Instead, (after looking at my chart), he decided to start me on a combination of Copaxone and Acthar.
BTW, I took Acthar in the past, and it did not work whatsoever for me.
My question...is should I continue with Copaxone, even though I'm in a wheelchair and can barely stand long enough to brush my teeth? It has been that way for quite some time now (at least a year). I feel that it's useless to keep injecting myself, and that it's too late to start any of the DM's since I've progressed too much for them to be helpful.
The thought of injecting myself for another 28 days plus injections of Acthar REALLY has me concerned.
If you can offer any advice, I would TRULY appreciate it. Thank you kindly, Donnie.
I have SPMS (started in 1998, diagnosed 2006). I have not been on any disease modifying drugs at all. I take baclofen for spasticity, and Advil for pain. I have had at least four IV steroids (solumedrol) over the past three years, but they're not as effective as they were the first time that I had them.
I started to get really bad in the last six months, but my neurologist thought it was best to hold off having steroids. He finally decided to give me an MRI, but it failed to show any new activity. Despite that, he allowed me to have IVSM. After three days of infusions, I was feeling a little bit stronger. However, I had that banding/tightness feeling in my chest/torso that was so severe that I called my doctor to ask for some kind of pain relief. Instead, (after looking at my chart), he decided to start me on a combination of Copaxone and Acthar.
BTW, I took Acthar in the past, and it did not work whatsoever for me.
My question...is should I continue with Copaxone, even though I'm in a wheelchair and can barely stand long enough to brush my teeth? It has been that way for quite some time now (at least a year). I feel that it's useless to keep injecting myself, and that it's too late to start any of the DM's since I've progressed too much for them to be helpful.
The thought of injecting myself for another 28 days plus injections of Acthar REALLY has me concerned.
If you can offer any advice, I would TRULY appreciate it. Thank you kindly, Donnie.
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