How are MS attacks treated?
In evaluating an MS attack, it is important to check for an infection (such as a urinary tract infection), which can precipitate an attack or cause old MS symptoms to recur (a pseudo-exacerbation, see Infections section). Typically MS attacks are treated with high-dose intravenous (IV) steroids, one gram a day for three to five days. Under certain circumstances, such as in patients with poor venous access or when a patient is traveling away from home, steroids can be given orally. Steroids used for the treatment of the MS attack are not muscle builders or performance enhancers; they decrease inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. The goal of steroid treatment of MS attacks is to speed up the recovery.
