Muscle Loss and Weakness

We first noticed muscle loss from my brother when we started coming down off of decadron,  Now  3 weeks later it seems to have increased where he has fallen a couple of times and had trouble getting up.

Has anyone had any experience with this , our neuro oncologist said he believes the weakness to be related to the tumor.  He also acknowledges  that their is the effect of muscle loss from the Decadron.

My brother started PT this week and we are optomistic , please share your experience on restoring muscle for normal walking. Thank you

My husband also had severe leg and muscle weakness after each round of decadron.  He could barely walk unassisted and he also fell several times.  He started physical therapy, concentrating on exercises to increase his leg muscles and we walked.  At the beginning walking from one room in our home to another was all he could handle.  But each day he took at least one more step.  We now walk outdoors at our local track and he does 2 miles daily.  Keep him walking every day.  It doesn't have to be much but be consistent. Have someone walk with him for his safety but keep walking.  Good luck to you and stay strong.

Decadron or Dexamethason is a steriod. Withdrawl of steriods shall tappered or gradual reduce of dose as advice by the Doctor. It is not mentioned the dose and period of use.

My wife used it in july 2007 for one month prior to her brain tumor surgery. It was grdaully withdrawn within 10 days of after the surgery. generally it is prescribed to reduce the edema.

I suggest you to have a through check up with Nero Surgeon and as well as with renowned nuerologist to find out the cause. As far as my wife is concerned she did not have this side effect.

Wishing you a fast recovery.

Regards

Mohammed M

Yes, a side affect of Decadron (Dexamethasone) is proximal muscle weakness mostly affect the large muscle groups (mostly the thigh).  My wife has a recurrent cerebellum tumor and the Nuro Oncologist started her at 12 mg per day in mid July 09.  It is slowly being reduced to now at 3 mg per day.  She probably be on it for several more weeks.  For the last three weeks, she has to be helped out of a chair, off the toilet, out of bed and she needs assistants walking.  I can tell that her thigh muscles has lost volume (very flabby).  She still can wash her hands, brush her teeth, feed herself, etc.  A side note, she also took it before and after her surgery last year (May 08), but it was at a lower dose (1 mg I believe) and only for about a week.