Looking for advice

[amalia66]

This year started with me having pain under my left rib. I went to my PCP and neurologist. My PCP told me that the pain was coming from my rib. The neuro had no clue and told me to talk with my PCP. However, what started in January as some pain under my left rib, ended in a complete nightmare in April.

At the beginning of April, my MS suddenly hit my legs and now I can’t even walk. I have crazy spasticity and can’t feel my heels. Instead, I feel an electric sensation. I have never had such bad spasticity previously. I also have really bad problems with going to the bathroom, in terms of both urinating (retention) and having bowel movements. I also keep feeling as if there’s something stuck in my anus, even though nothing is there. I don’t know if that’s related in any way to my internal hemorrhoids.

I then went back to my neurologist, who referred me for an MRI. That’s how I found out that a big lesion has now appeared in my thoracic region. I now understand that the pain underneath my rib was actually probably caused by this developing lesion. Now, my neurologist wants me to do steroids, however I really don’t want to do them. I’m currently 51 years old. I had steroids done once in my life, ten years ago when my right side was paralyzed from MS, and I had a very bad experience with them. Currently, I have very bad osteoporosis and I’m pre-diabetic. I also have a high iron deficiency anemia for some unknown reason. And I’m scared of doing these steroids, and making my problems even worse.

Has anyone been in any similar situations or had any similar problems? Do you think that my current condition can subside without steroids?




Thank you

[jreagan70]

Do you think that my current condition can subside without steroids?

Yes, it can. That is the nature of relapsing-remitting MS. It gets worse, it gets better -- at least in the early years.

Apparently your right-sided paralysis got better. That wasn't due to the steroids. Steroids don't change the ultimate outcome of a flare. If they're effective, they only shorten the length of a relapse, meaning that recovery might occur earlier. But the final outcome is the same. You would have recovered from your paralysis episode to the same extent even if you hadn't had steroids. But, in theory, you recovered more quickly than you would have without them. With paralysis, that sounds like a good thing.

Of course your neuro wants you to have steroids. The recommendation is standard procedure for flares that are significant enough to affect daily activities and quality of life. For a great many people, steroids help make them feel better in spite of the side effects.

If you feel that the effects of steroids are worse than paralysis and the inability to walk, then you shouldn't take them. If you have other health conditions that can be made worse by steroids, you shouldn't take them. Your outcome will be the same whether you take them or not.

Your condition can improve. That doesn't necessarily mean that it will. But even without steroids, there are some things you can do to try to improve the quality of your life, if you're willing to do the work. You can:

1. Work with your neuro to try medication to relieve some of the spasticity and maybe help you to walk better.
2. Have your neuro refer you for physical therapy to keep your spasticity from locking up your leg muscles into contractures and maybe help you to walk better.
3. Work with your neuro, a urologist and a GI specialist to see if there are medications to help with your bladder and bowel issues. The urologist will be able to advise you if catheterization is an option for your urinary retention.

Your condition has the potential to recover from this flare. But it would appreciate some help from you, if you're willing and able.