Can stress increase your ms symptoms?

[Dee5112]

I have been under great deal of stress lately because of the builder of my house and living in a house with high levels of mold. I have had increased weakness in my legs with spasms.  Have had several fall over last few month. Still in process of being worked up for MS.

Can increased stress cause things to get worse?

[Sparkysarah]

I think that stress is very dangerous and for me personally I am convinced that it is a contributory factor to my diagnosis of MS. I also know that if something traumatic or unexpected happens that is out of my control that causes me stress, and it is a trigger for a relapse.  

Wish I was not in relapse at the moment as I had forgotten how unwell it makes me feel...fatigue is overwhelming and everything in my body hurts.  This is my fourth week.

Sarah  

[Ojibajo]

Yes! Can it prolong episodes? Yes!

[jujuminx]

Yep, as most of us here can attest, stress is to be avoided when you have a MS dx.  Whether it's imediate or delayed, it impacts sx and sometimes can help push you over into a relapse.

You will find a lot of us here do things proactively, daily to reduce our stress (ie, exercise, meditate, nap, get massages, etc). Control what you can, when you can cause life happens.

Julie

[Sumanadevii]

I agree.  Stress can bring on a nice big flair.  My husband was recently dx with renal cancer.  I immediately began going into a flair.  I knew ...call my neuro and now!  I didn't waste a moment.  Steroid city...right now...that day.  And yes, it helped.  I don't even want to venture what might have been.....And

My husband is cancer free today!  We were very blessed.  The tumor was contained in his kidney which was removed.  He is still recovering...but knows the miracle that was given him.  The man has good karma and deserves it!!!!  Cause I said so!!

[supermum_ms]

In the latest research MS does not increase Risk for developing MS but it does show there is a connection between stress levels and relapses and or a temporary worsening of sx for people with MS.

Having said that though, mold is a known problem and could conceivably be causing you MS like sx, have you had that possibility investigated fully, some types of mold are very toxic so if you havent had the mold tested I would recommend you do.

Cheers......JJ

Heres the research, its under my account so you may have to join medscape to access it.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/743850?sssdmh=dm1.692731&src=nldne

[Sidesteps]

I am not dx'd either but it most definitely is worse for me.  My symptoms increase with heat, exercise, stress, illness and PMS....believe it or not...any amount of physicall or emotional stress on my body. I don't feel like I'm in a flare at this time but I had a meeting with the Executives in our office and my symptoms temporarily worsened. I've heard that it is important to control your stress levels. I think chronic stress is what flare up my attack last Fall.

[Sarahsmom46]

Stress makes everything worse including MS symptoms.  My symptoms get worse but mostly from cumulative stress rather than sudden unexpected types of stress.  Illness makes symptms worse too.

[Dee5112]

Thanks for the info. Fatigue and trying to focus on my work as been very difficult.  Had to leave work early today.

We have been in litigation for 2years now fighting the builder. Thanks for asking.

[HVAC]

Stress and over heating can make MS worse. I would either document it or call your Neurologist with new symptoms.

Alex

[MissLauraI]

Hi Dee-
I am still in the process of a diagnosis too but I can say that stress makes me feel worse. It brings on super bad fatigue and makes my leg weakness and twitching worse. It also makes me much more clumsy and hard to concentrate. Heat will do the same thing. So sorry to hear you are stressed.

If you are in a new house with mold I hope the builder is going to do mold remediation for you. Mold is a tough thing to live with. Bleach, sunshine and air helps to keep it down.