My husband was diagnosed back in Sept. of '96 with similar symptoms to
yours. He is slowly improving, but we have no idea if he will ever be
completely back to where he was before. Everything we have been told
indicates that he may continue to improve, but slowly, VERY SLOWLY.
Steve had steriods for a 6 week period and then got gradually off them (only
after gaining 35 lbs.). He took neurontin for 4 months and this seems to
have helped the pins and needles which he only slightly has now. He also
has side spasms that are very annoying and noticeable, but he says that it
is not really pain. He has described it as having a sunburn on the inside.
His skin in that area is sensitive to touch (but not as much as it was at
first). The Dr. just prescribed Baclofen for this and it seems to be
helping somewhat. It does make him drowsy and a little out of it, though.
He also has experienced some loss of feeling in his lower abdomen which has
slowed down his sexual performance (again, this is better than it was 6
months ago). He's also taking Zoloft which seems to make him feel better in
general, more positive and less irritable.
We are cautiously optimistic that he will continue to improve.
Sorry if this is a repeat for most of the group, but this person seemed to
be so similar to myself, being the wife of a TM patient, that I wanted to
respond.
It is not easy to watch your spouse suffer, and not easy to be patient with
the patient (pun intended) when he can't really describe what he is going
through. It is hard for me to imagine being healthy today and overnight or
in a few days or even hours, everything changes. Reading the letters of the
others in this group has really helped me to understand more, cope better
and also to offer my experiences to others in hopes that they will also get
some help here.
Wishing your husband better health...
Amy Thropp