Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing. – Denis Waitley
On Monday I had my seventh intrathecal methotrexate treatment. It’s been an interesting year.
I remember a difficult spinal tap in 2005, after having had several routine spinal taps in the years before. I swore at that time that I would never submit to another one. It’s funny how things change. My current, every eight week or so, spinal taps are sometimes routine and sometimes challenging, but I welcome them, because they seem to be making a difference in my life.
My first intrathecal methotrexate infusion was on March 5, 2012. It didn’t go particularly well. The oncologist made several stabs before hitting the spot. My second infusion was the worst. Yet again, it took him several tries, but that was not the issue. I was essentially immobile for nine days afterward because of a post-lumbar puncture headache. You can read about the details here. For the third infusion I was able to convince the doctor to use a smaller, 25gauge needle, which is known to reduce the likelihood of a post-lumbar puncture headache. He didn’t like the idea because 25gauge needles are so flexible that it is difficult to properly direct them, but he agreed to give it a try. It took him two attempts to hit the spot, which was no worse and maybe a little better than he had done with the larger needle. Most importantly – there was no headache, and there hasn’t been one since we began using the finer needle.
The fourth infusion went fairly well. By the fifth infusion, he seemed to be really getting the hang of it. Using the thinner needle, he hit the spot on the first try. I had virtually no discomfort during the procedure. We were falling into a comfortable routine, or so it seemed.
Each time a doctor misses during a lumbar puncture I feel a somewhat uncomfortable sensation in my spine. It is not pure pain. It’s pain…plus something weird. The inner sanctum that is my central nervous system is being touched. Yes, the doctor does use local anesthesia, but that only helps at the skin. The successful tries, those where the needle properly pierces the dural lining of the spinal cord, are no more painful than a flu shot. But when the doctor misses, then I exhibit certain involuntary responses. Usually I contort my face into a grimace. In the worst case, being the wimp I am, I articulate my discomfort with one of several audible declarations which I have at my disposal.

As I readied for my seventh treatment on Monday of this week I didn’t know whether to consider the sixth treatment to be an anomaly or a trend. I wasn't overly apprehensive though. Here’s the good news – this injection was his best ever, and he is beginning to gain confidence as he continues to learn the anatomy of my apparently tightly packed spine.
I have the utmost respect and gratitude for my oncologist. He agreed to take me on as a patient knowing relatively little about MS and how this chemotherapy drug might help me. He has consulted regularly with my neurologist. I provided the oncologist with a lot of information about the use of intrathecal methotrexate for MS, and he has read through it with humility and an open mind. He treats me with respect and compassion, and is willing to continue this venture despite the occasional bump in the road. I am very fortunate to have him on my medical team.
So my first year of treatment ended on a good note regarding the procedure itself. More importantly, I continue to feel that intrathecal methotrexate may be having a positive impact on my disease progression. I’ve still felt no clear worsening of my MS in over a year, and that is a huge deal.
I won’t be shouting from the rooftops that intrathecal methotrexate is the newest, greatest treatment for all people with MS. I am here, however, to say that there may be something to this idea, and people with the progressive form of the disease who are having no luck with any other approaches may want to give intrathecal methotrexate a serious look.
Feel free to contact me at email@enjoyingtheride.com if you would like to discuss this further.
Note: To see all of my intrathecal methotrexate posts, click here. They are listed in reverse chronological order.