Knowing whether you're having a relapse can be tricky — as one MyMSTeam member put it, "Is what I'm feeling a relapse, or is it just Tuesday?" It's a fair question, and many people with MS find it genuinely hard to tell.
A relapse is generally identified by these key signs:
- New symptoms appearing, or old symptoms getting Show Full Answer
Knowing whether you're having a relapse can be tricky — as one MyMSTeam member put it, "Is what I'm feeling a relapse, or is it just Tuesday?" It's a fair question, and many people with MS find it genuinely hard to tell.
A relapse is generally identified by these key signs:
- New symptoms appearing, or old symptoms getting worse
- Symptoms last more than 24 hours
- No fever or other obvious cause (like an infection) explaining the symptoms
- Symptoms occur more than 30 days after a previous relapse It's worth knowing that a temporary worsening caused by heat, stress, or infection is called a pseudoexacerbation — this isn't a true relapse and doesn't cause lasting damage.
A true relapse means the immune system is actively attacking the nervous system, potentially causing new areas of damage. Seek urgent medical attention if symptoms are preventing you from:
- Eating or drinking
- Caring for yourself
- Walking
For any new or worsening symptoms lasting more than 24 hours, reach out to your neurologist as soon as possible. Keeping a symptom log — noting when symptoms started and how they've changed — can really help your doctor assess what's going on.
October 17
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