It's been a year...

I can't believe how time has flown by! It has been just over a year since I started blogging. It is fun and strange to look back at my life over the last year. I have never been much of a diary person and would never have thought to blog if it were not for Marti.

I decided it is time for an update on my M.S. situation. I quit taking Betaseron a year ago. This was against the opinion of my Neurologist. I must say it was a hard emotional decision. No one wants to think they are making a potentially irreversible stupid decision. Anyway, this past year I have not had a new attack. I have had difficulty in areas where damage has already been established. You can check my original post to see the reasons as to why I stopped Betaseron and started treatment with LDN.

Spasticity is more a part of my daily life. (60% of people with M.S. have this problem) A few years ago, while on Betaseron, my doctor prescribed a drug called Baclofen. This didn't seem to help. Yesterday my doctor prescribed another spasticity drug called Zanaflex. I think I need a higher dose as it isn't working as well as I had hoped. They start you on a low dose to see how you tolerate it. I will have to wait a week or so then call her.

I have also tried a couple of "herbal" things that I think are worth mentioning. The first is one called Valerian. It does help especially when my pain is not severe. I believe it is worth trying if you are having nerve pain due to spasiticity. I also tried a little thing from Walgreens called Calm Forte. They seem to have similar active ingredients. (Passiflora -Passion Flower) I found that it also helped when the pain was not at a severe level.

Other on going problem is with my right leg. I tend to limp when over tired and I have pretty constant numbness, in my legs and arms, which I am hoping the Zanaflex will help me manage it better.

I believe the decision to stop Betaseron and start LDN was a good one. I have had less episodes than when I was on Betaseron. I am not cured however but I feel so much better. If I could get a handle on the pain from the spasticity I would be so thankful!