Why would a sufferer of MS be refused steroids?!

Why would a sufferer of MS be refused steroids?

The steroids use to be administered, to gain strength to the hips and legs and thus aid standing, but the physio has advised against the use of steroids now. Why would that be, and what alternatives are there?

I have MS and steroids are nasty, very strong drugs, which may or may not work - personally I would never have them again.

It depends which ones and how they're administered at what dosage.

Most neuros (physios can't predcribe them) only prescribe steroids for sensory symptoms not motor problems.

They 'speed' up recovery times (allegedly!) they do not build muscle or strengthen bones - quite the contrary they deplete calcium.

It may be that this person has had the recommended amount in a specified time. IV 3 times in 12 months is considered excessive. Too many steroids can cause osteoporosis - I've just had a bone density scan myself, because I have been so adversley affected by the last IV 1g that I had (I've only had two) side effects are bad anyway.

They are only a symptomatic treatment, they will not prevent further attacks or 'cure' any damage, the effects can be very short lived, difficult to guage whether relapses and remissions are spontaneous or relieved by them, they can take up to 6 weeks to 'work' by which time you could go into remission anyway.

There are Disease Modifying Drugs, intravenous immunoglobulin, and chemotherapy. As well as antiinflammatories, some epilepsy drugs are prescribed amongst other things. It would depend what type of MS it is, what the neuro's position is on any of the treatments and in the UK, where you live - it's a postcode lottery! Physio will probably be more use for the legs and neurophysio can help with balance and co ordination

If they've been told no steroids there will be a reason, they are usually only prescribed in relapse to kick start the system, they aren't a cureall, they may work one time but not the next. MS is so unpredictable that you can't even know that any of these treatments work, or for who they may work.


Mr Bigs, there are indeed other conditions which can mimic the symptoms experienced in MS However MS is a condition on it's own , the dx is arrived at after extensive tests to rule out other possibilities Lymes, amongst them it's routine that doctors test for it.

MS - Multiple scarring, literal term, lesions on the brain and spinal cord cause scarring,which is what shows up on the MRI
you can pretty much rule out other causes with a definite dx which is why a neurologist will not tell you until they themselves are satisfied that there is no other cause. Obviously you don't need to go to some private hospital to buy supplements and vitamins, you can just buy them at Holland and Barratt - which is what most people do.