mystery reader said...
I probably had my first major flare in mid March. After diagnosis, I was put on iv steriods in late April. Hated the steriods, felt terrible for several weeks after, and they did not seem to help. My neuro said that they had not been done soon enough. I still have muscle tigtness /pain(ms hug?) from the left side of rib cage down to my leg. My left leg is also tight and stiff. Neurotin is helping with burning pain in arm and head. Had four weeks of pt, but still have to use a cane when out walking. I've lost 28 pounds in 2 months, but appetite has now returned, I'm afraid that I am not in the remitting/relasping stage since I have not had much of remission. My leg is maybe 25% better. What does a remission feel like?
I don't think a remission "feels like" anything. A remission of MS is more like this: whatever symptoms you experienced when you had the flare or exacerbation seem to lessen in intensity, and there are no new symptoms occurring.
An "MS hug" by the way is a tightening of muscles that go around a limb, or around your torso (the most common occurrance), so what you're experiencing on your left side wouldn't ordinarily be called the "MS hug".
It sounds like what you're describing are what are called "residual symptoms" -- the remaining symptoms have lessened significantly in severity, but since damage has already occured in those areas, you'll have to deal with some degree of disability and discomfort -- residual stuff -- remaining stuff -- from the flare. You say your "leg is maybe 25% better" -- that would be an indication that you're "in remission".
Since it's just been a few months (yes, I know...seems like FOREVER, but in "MS life" it's just been a few months) you may continue to experience improvement. Did your pt give you some exercises to continue to work on your leg? Keep them up if you can; they can help more, over time.
Steroid treatments don't always work for everyone, and don't work every time you experience a flare. I hope you continue to improve over time.