Rrms - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

jacritch · 10-16-2005, 05:06 AM

Hi,
I think this is the type of MS my husband has. He is 44 years old and it came on real suddenly this last June. He was paralyzed from the waist down for a couple of months. He can now walk with a limp. At first the doctor's thought it was either a stroke of the spine or transvese myelitis. Well after all the test it is MS. He is a heavy equipment operator and probably won't be able to go back to work...we will have to see. Anyway, the doctor said for us to look up treatments on the internet to see how invasive we want to go w/it. Since this is all new to us (we got the diagnosis last monday) at it was a devastating blow to both of us. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what meds would be best for him.

I have to have back surgery soon and we have guardianship of my 3 year old grandson. I want to have surgery first so I can do more then I have been able to in the last year. I have read up on the meds and they seem to make people really sick.

Thanks so much for listening,

Judy

lilc · 10-16-2005, 07:37 AM

Hi, Judy. I'm guessing you've read up on the 4 main drugs used to treat RRMS - Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex and Betaseron. These are the "disease-modifying" drugs most often used on a long-term basis, the theory being that they slow down the progression of MS, or decrease the severity of future "attacks". All of them are injected, all have some possible side-effects (Copaxone seems to have the least severe side effects, it is a different kind of drug from the others) but if you read back through the posts on this board you will find many personal accounts of these drugs and the experiences folks have with them. Some people have no trouble at all with them, others have found ways to minimize the side effects, still other have chosen to stop or not start at all.
I have chosen to start Copaxone (waiting for insurance approval right now) because I hope it will help me to not get worse, and because I believe based on my research that it will be the least disruptive to my current lifestyle. It really is a very personal choice. I believe the web sites for the different drugs give phone numbers you can call and talk with medical professionals. Use all the resources you can find to help your husband make his decision.

jacritch · 10-16-2005, 09:00 AM

LLC,

Thank you so much for your response. We were just so devastated when we found out the news because he had no prior symptoms. He had severe arm pain and within 24 hours was crippled from the waist down. It took two months to be able to walk again. He can now walk with difficulty because it has affected his left side. He has 12 lesions on his brain. We feel fortunate because his was diagnosed in five months where some people wait for months or even years.

Reading up on some of the meds..they say they can cause liver problems. Well, he has hepatitus C that is inactive right now.

thanks for your response.

Judy

lilc · 10-16-2005, 12:04 PM

Copaxone is the exception, no need to monitor liver function on Copaxone.

lucybelle · 10-16-2005, 02:45 PM

Judy, I have been on Copax for 6 years and have never had any side effects or problems with it. Everyone is differrent but it has worked well for me. Good Luck! Lucybelle