optic neuritis

i have had optic neuritis 3 times in the past 2 years, i am only 26, and have recently found this condition is due to me having m.s. i have been left partially sighted in my right eye, i was on a high does of prednisilone for a long time which helped a lot to save my left eye. will this happen again??

Button88,

I'm not going to lie to you. There's a very good chance that you'll have another episode of Optic Neuritis, but don't worry about it.

I've had Optic Neuritis seven times in the last eight years. Each time has been different in duration and intensity; some episodes lasting a few days, or, like my current episode, months. Each time an episode subsided my eyesight would gradually improve, but my eyesight will never return to it's former glory and I've grown to accept that.

I only had partial success with Prednisolone in the past. They did try it again at the beginning of this episode but it had no effect. I think that its lack of effect may be due to the atypical nature of this recent attack. The pain associated with this attack is excruciating. My specialist has put the intensity of the pain down to the positioning and severity of the inflammation. It has caused me to lose the vision in my left eye and that's taken a little getting used to.

I was hospitalised for a short time while they experimented with various analgesic regimes until they settled with Oxycontin, which allows me to control the pain very, very effectively and has allowed me to get on with my life.

And that really is the bottom line Button. I know that it seems like the end of the world having MS, but you need to just get on with it. I know this is easier said than done but my best advice to you is to get super fit,eat really healthily and live your life to the full. Try to keep mentally focussed on what's truly important; family, friends, love and knowledge. Being focussed on them stops you worrying about the dreaded "what if's". It took me a little while to master it, but it's made a world of difference to how I handle my illness.

You're going to do great Button. Have the great life you deserve.

Love,

El Tigre x

You state that your treatment for Optic Neuritis was high dosages of Prednisolone. I am interested in knowing what was the exact dosage and what is the difference between Prednisilone and oral Prednisone. Any info would be appreciated.

Prednisolone is absorbed by the liver the other one isnt used that much anymore. Dosage depends on the pain and swelling of the optic nerves. I have Optic Neuritis and have been on prednisolone since october last year i was taking 12 pills a day im now reduced to 8 if i go any lower than 8 it flares back up again so they have put me on azathioprine. Once this medication gets into my system ill be able to reduce the steriods hopefully with no comeback.

Queastion for Button88 - Didnt they do a MRI Scan to check for MS the first time you have ON - because Optic Nuritus is the first sign of MS.