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Optic Neuritis -- any successes

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Posted 11/3/2008 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I am posting here for my first time.

I have been diagnosed for 1 year and 10 months. ON seems to be my worst symptom and a present flare up is particularly annoying!

Has anyone had any success with any alternative treatments specifically for Optic Neuritis? Chiropractic? Acupuncture? Herbal? Anything??

Thanks

Posted 11/3/2008 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry to hear of your optic neuritis.  I hope you feel better soon.  The only thing I have heard that is truly effective is solumedrol.  I am sorry I can't be more helpful.  Hopefully someone can offer more help in the alternatives you are looking into.
Posted 11/3/2008 1:15 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Crazyshopper

Welcome to the board. I too am sorry to hear of u'r ON problems. I have probs with my eye and tho it's been dx'd as early ON, it's also been dx'd as migraines and various other issues. That said, i can tell u i've done my share of research on ON. I'm not aware of any other treatments...legitiment treatments giving proven results. I've done some googling tho and thought i'd share what i found. Best wishes to u and please do let us know how u'r doing. I'm glad u'r here and hope u'll find the support and compassion u may need here.

http://www.bellaireneurology.com/multiple_sclerosis/ms_optic.html

http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/413/main.html#TreatmentofOpticNeuritis

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/optic-neuritis/DS00882/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

Posted 11/7/2008 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I just posted a question on this. For months I have had eye pressure pain that hits then goes. I thought it was from using revita lash. I went to a neuro eye dr yesterday and he said my eyes were perfect, no damage to the nerves, no pressure issues, no infection.

Would ON associated with MS (or anything for that matter) show in an eye exam as inflammation or something of the sort?

I have not been dx with MS, just odd issues going on with my body.

Posted 11/8/2008 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
hey i lost my vision about 3 months ago and if you go to the hospital pretty much imidiatly and get put on steroids they will come back for the most part but will never be exactly the same.

Posted 11/8/2008 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Casey

Welcome to the board. I"m so glad ur vision came back so well and that u are satisfied with the treatment u received. However, not everyone will respond in the same ways to steroids. Sometimes vision will return at the pre-ON state, sometimes it will get close and sometimes it will not be close at all.

I"m so glad u've found us and hope u'll feel comfortable asking any questions or posting as u have here. Take care.
Posted 11/8/2008 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi gang~MY MS started with ON. During the initial eye exam, they could see my optic nerve was swollen. MRI followed and confirmed it.

I lost some sight in left eye that has not returned, but not alot. I still have days the pain is there..sometimes very sharp...sometimes very dull, especially when I move my eye. Then I will go weeks-months..pain free. prednisone helps clear it up for me, but I hate being on it and usually ride it out. Hope this helps, everyones different.Hugs~Katie

Posted 11/16/2008 4:36 AM (GMT 0)

Well I'm reporting back and pleased with my results.

Under the guidance of my naturopath, we tried some natural solutions which eliminated the pain in my eye and head within about three days. Now, after 2 weeks my vision is almost completely restored. She explained that steroids act as a pain killer and anti inflammatory, so we looked at natural alternatives.

For those who are interested, we used Bromelaine, which is a natural anti inflammatory, and two Homeopathic remedies. The homeopathic remedies are very specific to each person and their symptoms so it is best to talk to a naturopath.

I also visited my chiropractor and had both spinal and cranial adjustments, which also provided relief.

In previous episodes of optic neuritis the vision took upwards of 6 weeks to improve again. So I am definitely pleased with recovery this time around.

And to the gal who asked if ON associated with MS shows in an eye exam .. for me it did not. Apparently that is one of the indications that is it ON, because the optometrists and opthamologists can't see anything.

Posted 11/16/2008 5:21 AM (GMT 0)

I have to disagree with your information on Optic Neuritis.  Most of the time Optic Neuritis is easily seen by an opthalmologist.  If the Optic Neuritis is "retrobulbar" in location then it can be more difficult to see.  In that case, it can easily be diagnosed by a visual evoked potential along with clinical symptoms. 

I am very glad you are feeling better.  It is great to hear that you were able to avoid steroids.

Posted 11/16/2008 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
I didn't mean to post wrong information. Just reporting what my experience has been, and what I've been told. Interesting that I would have been told this .. and I have had the evoked potentials too.
Posted 11/16/2008 5:31 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Crazyhopper,

Well actually I should probably recind my comment from before.  I did more internet research.  I was told by my PCP that ON is easly seen, BUT upon more poking around on the internet...........I have found that the "optic nerve disc" that joins the retina shows inflammation from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time.  So you can have ON and have it NOT show with the eye exam.  However I also found out that when it does not show,.....it supposedly shows up either in the evoked potentials or this pupil dilation exam. 

I am very glad you are feeling better.  I am a firm believer in anti-inflammatory supplements and foods.  I am trying to avoid those pesky steroids in the future. 

Thanks again for posting.  You have some experience with the alternative treatments and we could use your expertise here.


Posted 11/26/2008 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
I actually went to see an opthamologist regarding an intermittent optic neuritis. I am in the Army and I run. I have found that when I get about a half a mile into my run I lose vision in my right eye completely. When I stop running it returns. The Opthamologist said that was a form of Utophs syndrome which goes along with MS. I had also had been having problems with losing feeling on one side of my face and some weakness in one arm. He sent me for an MRI and to a neurologist. The radiologist who read the MRI stated that she could see lesions on the scan that would go along with demylinating disease such as MS. When I went to the military neurologist they said they didn't see it. I am not sure who to trust here. I was put on Topomax for the last month and I haven't seen any improvement in symptoms. By the way the Topomax were for headaches which I clearly stated to the neurologist that I did not have. He said the next step is a spinal. I am stationed overseas so I cannot really get another opinion. I also am not sure how far I want to push the issue since this will surely mean my being permantly discharged from the military simply for the diagnosis alone. If the symptoms are not that bad at this point is it worth waiting to treat? I am very close to finishing my RN degree and do not want to be kicked out of the Army on an LPN salary with 5 kids if I can avoid it.
Posted 11/26/2008 1:22 PM (GMT 0)

LDN....not licenced for MS or its effects but my boyfriend has taken it since being diagnosed 5 years ago and have only had 1 relapse in that time

He had massive spasticity in his arms and ON - now he is virtually symptom free

If you want more info let me know

Posted 11/26/2008 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Corbin,

You certainly have a lot to think about.  I would want a second opinion on an MRI on which a radiologist reported lesions, but I can see why you want to finish your RN education ( five kids is a lot of motivation!!! :) 

I have included a link that has a lot of information on the process of being diagnosed with MS.  I hope it helps.  Please feel free to post often and ask as many questions as you would like.  I wish you the very best of luck with the RN degree, your health and those five blessings!!!

http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/diagnosingms.html

Posted 11/26/2008 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Corbin!!

U are in quite a postion! My heart goes out to u friend. I can certainly understand u'r desire to weigh the symptoms and possible damage against waiting on a dx and meds. I am sure i'd be thinking the same way. How long do u have until u've completed u'r RN training? I can't tell u to wait or to push this, but i can see why u'd want to try to wait. If u'r very close it may be ok to wait, but MS is a very unpredictable disease. U can't know what u will wake up and find in the morn. The meds promise to try to help slow that down. They don't promise to stop it or to even be able to slow it, but they do seem to help. My dear best friend is proof of that. She works VERY full time and takes part in many extra activities revolving not only around her husband and children, but aslo things she has interest in. I dare say she can run circles around my NON-MS self! Just be really careful in this decision. Can u do any med testing outside of the military and not have it become part of u'r military record?? Is that possible?? I agree with Gretchen...i'd want a second on that MRI. Hang in there friend and keep posting. We'll do all we can to help u find u'r way.
Posted Today 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, my wife has MS...she was told in 1987 by her ophthalmologist that he saw the ON in 1972 and wrote the dx of MS on her card but chose not to tell her. The ON cleared up completely on its own and her MS came out 15 years later.....he saved her 15 years of needless suffering
Posted Today 3:45 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Syf,

Welcome to the board.  It was not an uncommon practice to withhold an MS diagnosis from a patient back in the time when there really wasn't anything to help MS.  Now that there are a couple of progression therapies and drugs to help with symptoms, most patients need to know as soon as possible.  Even those people who choose not to take a progression therapy monitor their disease with MRIs and neuro exams. 

I hope your wife is doing well.  Please feel free to post often with your or her experiences with MS.

Posted 11/30/2008 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I am currenly trying to recover from an MS relapse....Optical Neuritis.  I was symptom free for 6 years.  I just wanted to know if anyone can give me any advice regardng prednisone withdrawl.  I was on 1200mg a day for 5 days.  It's been 4 days since my last dose....no tappering off.  Energy level low, dizziness when I lift my head.  Does anyone know how long this lasts?  Only positive thing is that my eye is better.....just a little blurry.

Posted 12/1/2008 2:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Purpur68,

Welcome to the board.  You should feel better real soon.  It took me about five or six days to recover from the steroid crash.  I didn't taper either.  I hate that crash but I hate taking steroids for even a day longer than I have to.  I am so glad you are feeling better.  Hang in there. 

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