Migraine

Greetings,
I read on another forum where steroids can be used to help "break" recurrent hemiplegic attacks. Has anyone had any experience with this or heard of such a thing?

I know they can be effective to help break a long standing migraine but am wondering the efficacy against something like this dang cycle I'm caught in. I have a call in to the neuro about my Saturday ER visit but thought I would ask him about this while I had him on the phone. I just don't want to sound like a blooming idiot for suggesting it I guess :P

tia

/peace and hugs
JulieKay

Hi Julie.
Prednisone took my arm pain away that I experienced during my worst and longest attack. It may have broken the cycle, but not knowing it was migraine we were dealing with, I only took the steroids for about 5 days, so we'll never know.

The pain I was experiencing was like my arm muscles were constantly trying to lift a very heavy weight, even at rest. I don't know if you experience anything like that, but it definitely helped!

Greetings,
My Neurologist finally called back today and I had a chance to ask him about several things.

First he felt that the tx in the ER was fine and didn't have any further recommendations in the event that it happens again. I did ask If it would help me to take b-vitamins and magnesium daily and he thought that b-complex and magnesium would be great.

He wants to Increase my tegretol to 3 200mg doses/dy and the verapamil er 120mg to twice/dy.

I then asked about the prednisone and he was like well lets try it, it can't hurt. Kinda scary that I had to suggest it after already asking him if he had any other ideas but I am grasping at straws at this point any way.

We are doing 5x 20 mg for 5 days, 4X 20 mg for 5 days...... down to 1 every other day. This is a pretty heave dose for me so expect me to be wired for a few days - eek. but also please send me some positive energy that this does in fact help to break this cycle some.

I am very reluctant to make so many changes at once so I am sleeping on the rest. How am I to know what works or harms if I change so much at once?

I forgot to ask him about a specialist as I feel he is getting frustrated also but will be talking to him Monday any way so I may wait till then to start with the other things. - any thoughts from past experience?

TIA and especially thanks for listening

/hugs and peace

JulieKay

JulieKay,

I'm so glad you got to talk to your neuro about your ER visit and adding some new items to your treatment plan. My doctor also recommended I take magnesium along with other supplements on a daily basis.

I don't have any personal experience with prednisone but I know several people on the forum have used it successfully to help break their migraine cycle. Hopefully, they'll be along shortly to share they're experiences with you.

In the meantime, here's an article about it:

Prednisone Oral

I hope this helps!

Good luck with your new meds!!! I'm sending postive vibes and lots of hugs your way