This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi everyone,

I've been newly diagnosed, I was hospitalized a week ago tomorrow for my symptoms (difficulty urinating, numb torso, back, left hand and numbness/weakness in legs). I did 3 days of steroids and was out of the hospital 3 days ago. I've been having mild symptoms for about 2 months before I was diagnosed but the severe numbness started a week ago. The nuerologist sais this has all been one attack (from my mild symptoms 2 months ago til now). How long does your typical attack last? I'm praying for this numbness to go away and I know I need to have patience, I'm just scared. I know alot of people with MS have flare ups and then go back to feeling mostly normail I think, so I'm hoping for that. I don't know alot about it all yet so I'm looking for information from others who experience it first hand. I'd appreciate any stories, info or advice. Thank you all...

Hi hlm -

You have every right to be scared.

Remember that MS is a very persnicketty desease. Although many symptoms are similar to all who have ms, Symtoms, active lesions and relapses are expressed different in each individual. On person could have a relapse that last months and others a day or so.

You have come to the right place for support. There are many positive stories, and information on Thisisms as well as a place to vent your frustration.

hi hlm,

I had numness and strange feelings (burning...) in my legs for several months (but no other symptoms).

That relapse started in october 2006, in december i was diagnosed in hospital and they gave me steroids for 3 days. My feet were still burning and the legs felt "strange". The diagnosis and the hospital didn't help me to relax at all, as you can imagine... I had to wait till march 2007 and everything was ok again... > 5 months!

Still some time left to recover...

All the best
Sandrine

To answer your question, about how long "your" relapses lasted.... Well, I can tell you mine lasted for about a week real strong then took another two weeks to taper off, unmedicated. However, every single case and person is and will be different. I wish I had the answer you are wanting to hear. Truth is, it sucks when you look to your doctor for an answer and they cant give you one. MS is a weird creature. I know this answer dont make you feel any better, but it's the truth.

hlm,

Your fear and desperation are coming through loud and clear and it reminds me so much of what I was going through in Jan. of this year, after an onset of optic neuritis and severely impaired vision. I knew nothing of MS at the time and failed to grasp the big picture, I somehow felt that MS was secondary to the primary issue...my eyes. I wanted so badly to hear from people who'd had EXACTLY the same symptoms. The doctors told me it would pass. I didn't know whether to expect gradual improvement or just wake up one day and see fine again. You're probably wondering that too. For me, the first improvement came about 3 weeks after the hospital stay and a steroid i.v. It was a drastic, overnight improvement and I was thrilled. It took about 3 more weeks of gradual improvement before I felt like I could function normally. I know you're trying to stay calm but I also know how utterly impossible that is. Anyway, I'm glad you found us and hope you'll keep us posted.
Kara

Thank you all so much for your heartfelt responses. I have felt better since the steroids (am able to urinate on my own again, although sometimes it takes much concentration, I am walking without any aids, however I'm still very numb in my torso and left arm/hand) Mostly its the numbness that I'm worried about and am praying to make a full recovery so that I can function normally (driving, working, using my left hand because I'm left handed, etc.) I sometimes can't tell if I am feeling better or if I'm just learning to better function and feeling happier so that affects it too positively. It is such a relief though to hear people say that it took a little while to get better, as strange as that may sound, it's just sometimes I fear that if I'm not better already, it might not work, but I'm trying not to think that way and be optimistic, and listen to all of your advice, and I am so grateful to have found this site for support! It has only been a week since I was hospitalized so I'm trying to have patience and hopfully get better each day. IO do wonder though what is best to heal quickly - resting a lot or trying to go on with your day to day activities? Its a little hard for me to rest alot with a toddler on the go, but I do have family support and try to take it easy, I just don't want to push too hard and slow down my recovery, do you think thats possible? I want to do whats best...

This is actually a very good question I am trying to figure out myself.
I had 5 sessions of intravenous conrtizone, (after an MRI showed an attack) followed by three weeks of tapering.
It's been close to a month since I started with the IV cortizone now but the symptoms remain: Pain in the waist, spine and torso, numbness in the right and left arms and hands, numbness in the right foot, dizziness...l hermite is also active.
Some minor impovements, ie now I can hold a pen and write, I walk short distances without getting dizzy, can do things, but not yet the big one, ie wake up one morning and feel good in my body!
How long could this last? I beleive I can face it better psychologically if I have an approx. time limit, ie could last for a month, two months etc.
Basically this last flair up that happened 8 months after the initial symptoms, followed by three pages of blood tests, 2 lumbar punctures and 4 MRIs was the one that convinced my neurologist that I had MS.
I am starting with interferone B next week.

Hi, I started getting symptoms in May 2013 and pleaded with my GP from August to refer me to someone and begged for MRI scans I eventually got to see a surgeon in October who referred me to a Neurologist, had all the tests done incl lumbar puncture. I was diagnosed in January, I was put on a course of steroids for 19 days(which didn't agree with me) I ended up managing 11 days of hell. I was then admitted to hospital and put on IV steroids for 3 days after day 2 they stopped them coz my sugar levels went through the roof. I have been on amitriptyline x 50mg and Neurotin x900mg pd for the last 3 weeks and there is no improvement in the loss of feeling numbness and head and neck ache. I can't see an end to this at all. Is this normal?

I've never done steroids or any neuropathy meds. My relapses typically last 8 weeks and then everything lightens up pretty quickly. Hang tight. There is an end! You might want to peruse the natural section to see if you would like to try some more natural ways of reducing inflammation and neck tension. It's kind of hit or miss during a relapse but some stuff does help...Curcumin helped me, I think. Magnesium should help with your neck and head ache.

Hi Anonymoose,

I was taking Calcium/Magnesium and BComplex everyday since last May. I stopped them when I went all the meds is it safe to take these vitamins plus vit D? this is my first bout of MS(according to the Neurologist coz he never met me b4). I think I have yrs but have this bad bout since last May/August. Didn't think I would have a bout more than a month but 7ish months hmmm..bit too long.

santanabmw wrote:Hi Anonymoose,

I was taking Calcium/Magnesium and BComplex everyday since last May. I stopped them when I went all the meds is it safe to take these vitamins plus vit D? this is my first bout of MS(according to the Neurologist coz he never met me b4). I think I have yrs but have this bad bout since last May/August. Didn't think I would have a bout more than a month but 7ish months hmmm..bit too long.

Oops! I misread your post and thought you were in about week 5 of a relapse. I now question whether or not you are relapsing...doesn't sound like progressive ms either. (I am not a doctor!)

Have you had any nutrient testing done? There are a load of nutrient deficiencies/imbalances that can cause neuropathy. Recently, I've been sampling a bunch of them...all respond to adjusting supplements. Did you know copper deficiency mimics ms...including lesions?? Iron deficiency and high calcium can cause neuropathy. Magnesium deficiency can cause spasticity/muscle tension. Yadda yadda yadda. I would get some bloodwork done to test for b12, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, ferritin, calcium, vitamin d. Then design a supplement plan around the results. If you already have those results, jimmylegs should be able to give you her take on the normal levels and help you come up with a plan. (I think you can continue your current supplements with meds...just take mag/calcium at least 2 hours from your oral meds)

7 months is a long time!

Thanks so much for ur response. I aim to get bloodwork done as soon as this is finished..whenever that will be..yes 7 months is a long time and I worked, (don't ask me how) until 5 weeks ago.

Yw.

I'm not saying a deficiency is definitely the cause of your looong lasting issues. But if it is and you don't know what to treat...how will you ever come out of it?? We have to go where the doctors won't take us sometimes. Knowledge is power and all that cliche stuff. If nothing abnormal shoes up, at least you've narrowed the possibilities.

I hope you feel better soon!

I have had relapses last anywhere from 2 weeks to 3-4 months. When I say "last" I mean that there is continuous decline for that period of time. The time period in which I'm dealing with the decline, well you could say it has been indefinite. I have had severe relapses where the degeneration has never recovered fully and I have had relapses where I have regained function immediately after a course of steroids or immediately at the end of the decline. I think it's important to remember that there won't always be full recovery, but also that recovery can continue for upwards of one year following a relapse. My neurologist says that a good rule of thumb is that if you still have disability one year after a relapse that you are likely stuck with that disability, but I'm fairly certain that I have noticed improvements subsequent to the one year mark.

Take care of yourself: get enough sleep, fuel your body with nourishing foods, get adequate levels of nutrients and vitamins, get exercise, keep your stress levels to a minimum, ENJOY life and have faith that you will return to a level that you are capable of functioning at; whether that is the result of a better outlook or true recovery, does it really matter?

All the best!

Pink

Hi, I was diagnosed with ms over 2 years ago and I'm still not sure when or if I have a relapse/attack, I get some good imformation from a book my husband got me when I was first diagnosed its by Judy Graham Managing Multiple Sclerosis Naturally it may help you.
good luck
Sue