There were definite benefits to taking the shot once a week. I mastered doing it right in my thigh, alternating thighs from one week to the other. I hated the side effects. I still remember feeling like crap for two days following my shot even in year 8 & 9. Take your Advil or Tylenols an hour before your shot and keep taking them the day after.
So, did Avonex help me? Tough question to answer since I did progress and nine years later, I am finding it difficult to walk more than a few blocs. My progression is very slow since I did not suffer from any attacks after I got optic neuritis a year after my first episode.
The natural course of MS would have brought me to the same point or maybe slightly worse. In this regard, Avonex probably did not do much for me.
Ever since I stopped taking it, I feel better in the sense that I do not have any nasty side-effects to put up with. I am going to try taking antibiotics for now and see how it goes. If my MS progresses, I will try mitoxantrone.
All along, I incorporated the Best Bet Diet. It is important to eat right, drink lots of water, exercise in moderation, sleep well and relax as much as you can. No drug is better than that.

beyondms