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Hello

A MyMSTeam Member asked a question 💭
Munich, DE

Hello everyone, perhaps someone has experience with a similar situation. My wife has had MS for 42 years, and now she experiences a relapse every four weeks, without any visible inflammation on the MRI. The relapses are always the same. She isn't taking any medication. She took Imorek until 2010. The neurologists, of course, don't want to start anything because nothing shows up on the MRI. Has anyone experienced a similar situation?

Regards, Robert

April 4
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Answer Summary

Members responded to a question about a wife experiencing regular MS relapses every four weeks with no new inflammation visible on MRI,... Read more

Members responded to a question about a wife experiencing regular MS relapses every four weeks with no new inflammation visible on MRI, offering thoughtful insight into what might be happening. A key theme was the concept of pseudo-relapses, where one member explained that old lesion damage can cause real, recurring symptoms even without new MRI activity, and that this can signal a shift from relapsing-remitting to secondary progressive MS. Several members also shared helpful information about symptom management medications like gabapentin, baclofen, and Fampyra, while encouraging the family to discuss these options with her neurologist.

A MyMSTeam Member

@A MyMSTeam Member
Hello, can these pseudo-flare-ups be treated with medication?

April 7
A MyMSTeam Member

Yes, but if you go to his “treatments” it does state there that his wife has Ms.

April 4
A MyMSTeam Member

@A MyMSTeam Member
Hi, thanks for your assessment.

April 5
A MyMSTeam Member

@A MyMSTeam Member Your wife might be experiencing pseudo-relapses caused by old damage from previous relapses. My most recent MRIs also show no new signs of inflammation or new lesions despite and increase in my MS symptoms in the last 18-24 months . I’ve was diagnosed with MS about 29 years ago the increase in symptoms signaled to my doctor that my relapsing-remitting MS had progressed to secondary progressive MS. Unfortunately, DMT’s are not indicated in non-active secondary progressive MS without the presence of an “active” or new inflammation shown on MRI.

I want to say that pseudo-attacks or pseudo-relapses are still a real medical event and does not mean that the symptoms are not real. Instead, it means that a person’s functional reserve is decreasing and is having a harder time compensating (aka.”covering up”) damage caused by previous attacks. Things that decrease a person’s functional reserve are things like natural aging, infection/illness, poor sleep, or anything that creates a stressor on the human body…physically or emotionally.

I would ask her doctor if this is what might be going on and if she is experiencing pseudo-attacks. Hope this helps.

April 4 (edited)
A MyMSTeam Member

Your page just shows this that you're 46 years old and ms diagnosis in 2017?

April 4

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