Optic Neuritis - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Yourtroubl · 01-05-2007, 08:22 AM

My pitiful neurologist said that I have one pupil larger than the other, which can mean something I dont know.

If you have Optic Neuritis is the pain constant. Its the eye that hurts all the time when I am getting a migrain. I have one now. But it does not hurt all of the time.

MSNik · 01-05-2007, 12:15 PM

Oh Gosh, maybe I shouldnt be writing to you. Pitiful doctors are a dime a dozen, arent they? Last month, I had a full fledged excaberation. I am diagnosed with MS, and taking REbif....I was on Streroids, IV, for 5 days, and then, fell down a flight of stairs...right back to my excaberation in a huge way. At that point, My eyes starting hurting too. And, one pupil was bigger than the other..and the pain, behind my eye, was unblieveable! BUt, it came and went...it wasnt constant. I went to my doctor, who said "optical neuritis" and said he cant do anything, because I was only off the steroids for about 5 days...he also said that MAYBE they would still help...after another week of agony, I went to see a NEURO_OPTHALMOLOGIST...a very big wig specialist at one of the largest hosptials here in NJ...he examined me like I have never been examined before, both optically and neurologically. Guess what? He said absoltuely NOT optical neuritis...yes, the right pupil is bigger than the other, but the Optical Nerve, which he looked at very closely, is fine, not inflamed, not aggravated..nothing. He also said the pressure behind the eye is fine...so, what is it?? ITs an MS thing. Its MS pain. And, it will go away on its own....sounds easy, right? A week later, Im still in pain!! I have to go back and see him in 2 more weeks for a follow up, think he will be surprised to hear it hasnt gone away??
Im not saying that you DO or DONT have optical nueritis....but, I am suggestiong that you get another opinion...im not so sure the one I got was correct, but at least iM 100% sure he gave me a good exam and really looked at the health of my eye...if he cant find anything wrong, maybe he is right, maybe it is just MS pain...
Good luck...and get another opinion...see an eye specialist and see what he has to say.

MSHekele · 01-05-2007, 02:28 PM

Hi,

I would like to unfortunatly consider myself an ON pro. I have had it every 3 months for the past 3 years. From my experience when I have ON the pain is always constant.Im sensetive to lights and eye movement is horrible. Every time I have had steriods and its takes a good 3 weeks before my eye starts feeling better. Thats just the pain part. I usually have vision loss as well which can take longer to get better.. At first I did not know I was having vision loss untill I went to the eye doctor. When they covered up the good eye I could barely see out the ON eye. Plus I loose certian colors like black. I cant read clocks on walls ect...
I have also seen a neuro opthamologist several times and they do good exams. However my Neuro Opthamologist has told me even though he can look at the nerve it may seem ok like a healthy nerve it still can be ON. He then had me get a MRI which showed the Optic nerve was inflamed and swollen. Espically when they used dye with the MRI.
If I as so much get a twinge of pain I call my neuro and get on steroids asap, they have told me that ON can permantly damage your nerve and cause permanent vision lt loss. also the more you have ON the more damaging it can be.
My best advice get to a doctor have an MRI and find a dark quiet room to hide out in for awhile.
I hope this helps best of luck to you both.
Heather

MSNik · 01-05-2007, 02:51 PM

heather,
Just out of curiosity, what does the neuro-op say about the damage steroids do to you if you use them too often? Ive been on them twice in 3 months, and already, I am starting to be told that they will NOT let me use them again for at least 6 months, no matter what. Steroids do terrible things to you long term.
I agree about the MRi, however, another thing you might want to ask is about the use of steroids (IV) and their affect on MRI's. My MRI center will not do an MRI if I have been on steroids within a month...in fact, I had an MRI scheduled, which they cancelled when I got there, because I had just been on IV Steroids. They say it can affect the MRI, giving false negatives, and false positives...
I have another MRI scheduled in the beginning of March, I figure since they wont let me use IV Steroids for the next few months, it wouldnt hurt to schedule it then..
You know, everyone and every doc seems to have different opinioins on this...its just strange that some of the info conflicts so much, isnt it?
Nikki

MSHekele · 01-05-2007, 03:15 PM

Nikki,

I have been told that IV ROIDS can give you osteoperosis bone loss. It can also weaken your immune system. Also it can raise your blood sugar.Personally they make me crazy I worry abuoout everone elses health when I get get the ROID RAGE!! LOL! Whenever I have been in the hospital with a flair I usually get injections having a brain fart right now to lower my sugar. I have had a bone density test done because of all the steroids I have had.
I have never been told to not have an MRI while on or recently been on roids
. Its totally weird how different Docs practice medicine differently.

Heather