just read this on lyme forum--

[eljomom]

Just copying this from a Lyme forum I just poked around on---wonder if this might be what is happening when people try a steroid taper, and initially do better, then regress?? Thoughts?

Oh, sorry for all the posts today---it's a Pandas-thinking-day.

"

The main thing always overlooked that is most important - corticosteroids release dormant viruses (we ALL have dormant viruses residing in our spine) especially if IV, trigger point injections or facet joint injections are done near the spine. Mine were in the shoulder blade area. Viruses released as well and spread everywhere in my body 4 in all, they can make pain much worse and mixed w/Ld a nightmare. We have all been exposed to viruses in our lifetime through saliva, contact with others infected or even airborne, for instance Chicken Pox reactivated can be something entirely different, shingles, shingles can be localized or systemic (internally and body wide) Mono from the Epstein Barr virus reactivated can cause pain and neuropathy just as an example. You have dormant viruses, it is fact.

 

Once released they can be dangerous. If you have had corticosteroids at all, especially if you have pain that is not manageable, insist upon viral testing.

 

Know how to read a viral report, if either the IgG or IgM show out range you ARE infected w/viruses, many doctor's only look at the IgM (meaning active - IgG meaning past exposure) and may be wrong. There is much argument in the medical community as to the meaning of IgG...IgM is clearly active, IgG positive tests, the line blurs as to whethr you are actively infected or not. "

[Bordercollie]

My 27 y.o. Son had IVIG at the end of September. Thirty days later he got a bad case of mono that has lasted 2 months. Unfortunately we have seen no positive results of the IVIG. Your post is a eureka moment for me. He has mono 12 years before that. So now I believe that the prednisone he got for the pre IVIG and after for the headaches caused the mono. We are considering 2 more IVIG treatments in 2011 if he is will. Thanks for posting this.

Edited December 30, 2010 by Bordercollie