Effects of Steroid use

[Dealy]

Need input from group. I am alittle past 3 months out after FSR radiation. I had been put on a 6 day packet of Steroids 3 times during this 3 months. I have developed numb feet and a constant need to urinate. E-mailed facility where I had radiation-told me this was not related to AN or radiation. This past week went to local Uriologist. He had an MRI and Ultrasound of my Back-Kidneys-Bladder etc. Being an Nf2 I thought maybe I had a tumor on my Spine. Results came back yesterday. Told me I have Spinal Stenosis-which means degeneration of the Spine from a previous back injury. They feel this is pressing on nerves causing numb feet on both sides and could cause Bladder problems. My right side-in the back aches terrible. This is the side my AN is on. Here is my question for group- I had no major problems with this until I ended my third round of Steroids. Wondering-if I had Back problems-why it showed up just like that-all of a sudden? All doctors I have spoken to say it is not related to Steroid use. Okay-is this just coincidence then? My feet are so numb sometime it is like walking on pins and needles. Any input or experience appreciated. Thanks Ron.

[Dealy]

Yes-I have been tested for diabetes and everything comes back negative. In fact my local doctor who tested me for diabetes told me this numbness was caused by the AN firing unspecified nerves. I now believe that is wrong. My Gosh-they will tell you anything-even if it is wrong. Uriologist gave me medicine for irritable bladder but it can cause blurred vision and does not set well with decongestants-which I was taking for swollen nasal tubes. Gee-I wonder what else I can get. I counted my ailments the other day besides my AN and I came up with 11 of them. My wife and I have to laugh because I used to be the picture of health. NOT NO MORE. Oh well- Uriologist may reccommend me to a back specialist. I can live with the numb feet for now-just feels wierd all the time-and my back aches. Thanks for the reply. It's Friday-Another week we survived. Have a good Day.

[Gennysmom]

Dealy, I had a disk herneated in the L4-L5 area a few years ago, and it pinched my a nerve that caused numbness in one foot.  It ran from my outside 3 toes and around the side of my foot.  I also had a spot in my calf.  One of the initial tests the Dr. made me do when I was in his office after the injury was to stand on my toes...and I couldn't do it...no information was travelling down that nerve.  So I'm thinking it could have to do with the spinal degeneration?

[Battyp]

Dealy, I had problems with my feet after my an surgery and being confined to bed for 3 mos.  I was told that the condition was exasburated with steriod use.  It took about a month to 6 weeks of physical therapy and getting this med put on my foot before it got better. 

[Windsong]

Ron,

I too began to have numb sections along my legs this last year post radiation treatment. I have not been on systemic steroids though. At first I thought it was due to a neurological disorder i have which causes all manner of of neuropathy type symptoms in my feet and legs. Then I thought it might be due to the radiation but my doctor said no. I ended up having an MRI of my spine and lo and behold it showed a benign tumour in one place and also spinal compression in a number of places and some disease that is totally unpronounceable plus i have to look it up to spell it. Now I have an answer for the numb paralysis type feelings in various places. I am totally bummed out however about all the new additional things wrong with me. I won't list them all as i get down when i see it in front of me. It's stressful even with all the alternative relax stuff I do. Far too much to have in one year.

Makes me wonder how many others ended up hearing about having more diseases after having an An for a while.

In any case, the posts in this thread are good reminders that not all things necessarily are due to an An and treatment on one's head. Always good to have your doctors check out other possible causes for symptoms.

Oh, as an aside, i read something tonight thats says REM sleep during which we dream is presumably also controlled in some way by the pons which of course made me think oh, maybe that's why i have crazy dreams since my An is impinging on the pons lol.... which brings me back to blaming my An, oh dear.

Windsong

[Dealy]

Windsong

What I find so amazing-if at not coincidental-that I Knew I always had back problems. However this past months since I have been on Steroids is either the biggest oddity or I just do not have any luck. I know the doctors do not think the 2 are related. This is hard for me to convince since why would it flare up now of all times. Makes you wonder-huh. I am going to proceed to see a back specialist. I have gone to walking normal a few months back to using a cane now. This is what I like about this group-we can all relate. Can't solve each other's problems-but we can relate. By the way- what is the size of your AN. I might have missed that on one of your previous posts. Thanks-Ron

[Windsong]

Hi Ron,

My An at time of treatment start was 2.1 cm At the 6 mo follow up MRI it was 1.9. I like to think it shrank lol and that it is not simply a 2mmm difference depending on which slice one looks at lol. I am told it is stable.

I am learning to speak up more about some symptoms and not assume they are due to one thing or another that I have. I think if I had pushed for a spinal MRI much earlier I would have saved myself quite a bit of worrying and wrong-thinking the last year lol...

I may not be happy about what I did hear but at least I would know. Best wishes for your own pursuit of the cause of your symptoms.

Windsong

[Rc Moser]

I didn't catch why you were on Steroids? Was it prescribed after your radiation? I was on steroids for awhile after I had surgery. I think a month. This was  to help the healing process of the tissue I think.  IMO I think your having side effect of the radiation and the steroids. I would take the name of the pills and Google search the side effects and what they are used for of these pills and see if any are related to your symptoms.