Relapse symptoms

[suz1579]

Hi all,
So I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of being diagnosed and am currently in what I think is a relapse. For the past week and a half I have experienced bilateral leg tightness in the hamstrings and calves, and now my legs feel weaker than they did a few days ago but not as tight. I had similar symptoms this past spring when I had a relapse. My question is, do you experience the same symptoms most times when you have a relapse? Thanks for your advice...this is still pretty new to me.

Suzanne : )

[HVAC]

Relapses are defined as more than twenty four hours of a symptom. Relapses are caused by inflammation. Where you get symptoms all depends on where the inflammation occurs in the CNS. When the inflammation goes down so should the symptoms. This is why steroids can help. They have their own set of challenges so they are not used for every relapse.

It depends on what is causing the leg pain. If it is muscular muscle relaxants help if it is nerve anti seizure and similar drugs help. Often you need a combination. All of us are different Baclofen for example does nothing for me except make my migraines worse.I went to a pain clinic and we have tried all kinds of things over the past year. The good news is they found a couple of drugs which help and I got off a boat load I had been on. The doctors kept adding pills over the years instead of finding the right treatment for me. I also stretch every day.  If you stretch you need a PT to tailor a program to your needs since each of us has different issues.

Alex

[suz1579]

Thanks Sarah. I guess since I'm still new to this it's hard to be patient with this and I just want to feel good again. In your experience with MS, what have been your major symptoms during relapse and remission? Are you on a DMD? How many relapses have you had since being diagnosed? Sorry so many questions but it's nice to connect with others that "get it".

[SarahL2491]

perhaps some baclofen...I use baclofen and neurontin for my spasms.  Ask your neuro

you tend to get similar ones but not always.  Check our health pages to the right, there is a ton of information.  Also check out the national MS site if you have not already, tons of information there also!