Symptoms of a Relapse

[coach]

Since I was never dianosed with RRMS, just MS with 14 years of no symptoms then a gradual progression after the 14 asympomatic years to where I am now SPMS with an EDSS of 6.5 to 7. Can someone explain to me what symptoms one experiences when one has a relapse. I know it may vary from person to person.

[LR1234]

My relapses have all been different

I have had severe numbness in an area of my body that after a period of time has worn off and left me with loss of sensation but not as bad as in the relapse.

I have had a vertigo relapse, I work up at 5am with the room spinning so bad I could not stand and I was so sick, eyes were moving around so much, couldn't focus. I then had a milder version of that for a further 3 months which eventually went but has left me with occasional dizziness.

I have had a relapse where my whole body vibrated and the bottom of my back was killing me. My legs and arms then became numb and when I tried to walk everything became slow. (this has now gone apart from slight l'hermittes and some residual numbness on arms)

So you never had a relapse but then just had progression? How do the dr's know you had SPMS then and not PPMS?

What was the turning point where you went from 14 years with no symptoms to progression? what did you notice? and did something happen around that time that could have triggered the change? (an accident, stress, an illness???)

[coach]

It may have been stress. Was having a difficult time with my mother and her health. My husband lost his job but started his own busines. It started with calf muiscle pain that would not go away. I guess the stress may have been a trigger.

[Wonderfulworld]

Coach I get 1-2 relapses per year so I've had a plethora of symptoms over the years....usually when a relapse hits a crisis point it's pain and extreme fatigue needing bed-rest, but it also includes numbness, vision problems like blurriness or eye pain, urinary frequency and sometimes retention. I get problems with my speech - during relapses I stammer, use wrong words for things, can't recall words, and have memory problems. I get balance problems, mild spasticity in my legs but sometimes also my ribs which needs physio to break up. I get very emotional and can't cope with complex tasks or any pressure, I can't think straight. My sleep tends to be very disturbed during a relapse,

Coach have you never had periods of time where all your MS symptoms increase greatly?

[coach]

My main problem is the walking and balance. These things became progressively worse the last couple of years as well as my speech deterioration. The ccsvi procedure helped greatly with the fatigue. Most days I don't need a nap. Whereas before the procedure, fatigue was a big factor. I guess it stands to reason if you have poor balance, then your walking would be affected. My speech had become noticeably slurred before the procedure. Most people have commented on how much better my speech is. Cognitive issues seemed to be the least of my problems. My memory seems to be ok. I have been called the human sticky note of the family. At least I'm good for something. It saves trees. Speech improvements have remained stable since the procedure as well as better energy, better sleep, fewer headaches (just the occasional garden variety).

[Daisy3]

Coach,

did ccsvi not help with the balance and walking i take it?

[coach]

That's right Daisy3. Initially it may have helped some but not a lot. I was trying to be patient and wait for the walking improvements to come but they didn't. Regardless, I think it was worth it for the improvements I did get. Just wish walking was one of them. Makes me wonder if that problem may be related to something else or to the fact that I've had this going on 27years so not sure what damage has occured and if it's permanent which it may very well be. According to the mri I have some black holes indicating permanent tissue loss. Never seemed to have enhancing variety lesions. Inflamation? But heck, some people are able to get by with half a brain.