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Would like thoughts on optic neuritis

A MyMSTeam Member asked a question 💭
Lincolnton, NC

New to MS. Saw my neurologist for the first time this week. She has ordered two more MRIs and a spinal tap. The reason I had my first MRI was due to vision issues. The question I have with the optic neuritis is does something bring that on maybe heat or stress? I have not been told I have that yet, but it did come up in conversation at my appointment. I do appreciate any responses.Thank you

6 days ago
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A MyMSTeam Member

I had optic neuritis twice , basically your immune system attacks the myelin surrounding the optic nerve . It will get inflamed and cause vision issues . When the inflammation goes down the vision can return depending on the damage to the nerve. Heat can make it worse , but that would be more a pseudo flare .

6 days ago
A MyMSTeam Member

Heat and stress will make it worse! Barbara Talbert

6 days ago
A MyMSTeam Member

Prayers for you both 🤗

6 days ago
A MyMSTeam Member

Tiffany 246, That is a very good picture of optical neuritis. I'm sorry you had to deal with it twice so far. I'm dealing with it too.

6 days ago
MyMSTeam

Welcome to the journey — it's a lot to take in at first, but asking questions is a great first step. It's completely understandable to want to know more about optic neuritis, especially when it's come up in conversation with your neurologist.

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, which carries visual Show Full Answer

Welcome to the journey — it's a lot to take in at first, but asking questions is a great first step. It's completely understandable to want to know more about optic neuritis, especially when it's come up in conversation with your neurologist.

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, which carries visual information from your eyes to your brain. It's actually one of the most common early signs of MS, with about half of people with MS experiencing it at some point. To answer the question about triggers — yes, heat is a well-known factor. Heat can temporarily worsen vision symptoms, such as making things blurrier. This can happen during exercise or in warm weather.

Stress is also known to potentially worsen MS symptoms generally, which could include vision-related issues.

Common symptoms of optic neuritis to be aware of include:

- Pain behind the eye, especially when moving it
- Blurred or dim vision
- Colors appearing washed out or dull (like red looking gray)
- Vision loss in the center of your visual field The good news is that optic neuritis often improves on its own over time. If treatment is needed, high-dose steroids are typically used to help speed up recovery.

It's really important to keep your neurologist informed of any vision changes as they happen. The MRIs and spinal tap your neurologist ordered will help build a clearer picture of what's going on.

One MyMSTeam member shared, "The only time I got a really bad jolt was when I got optic neuritis in my right eye" — a reminder that experiences vary, and support from others who understand can make a real difference.

6 days ago

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