Hello nice people.
So, the doctor told me I got this thing I can’t even pronounce, coxsackievirus; it’s a contagious virus. Normally toddlers get it, but some adults with weak immune systems can get it too. I am on medical leave, obviously, I can’t work. I have rashes on most of my body, and swollen lymph nodes. I am keeping an eye out in case it triggers any pseudo-relapse or a relapse, and of course I have updated the MS nurse. Just wondered of anybody else had it?
M.
Oh that’s bad luck. I hope that you feel better soon and that your MS doesn’t take advantage.
I had never heard of it until now . Hopefully it’s relatively mild and sending you best wishes for no MS flare up.
Wondering if Ibuprofen might help calm the symptoms and your immune system?
Thank you both for the well wishes. It’s actually quite aggressive, not mild. There’s a rash everywhere on my body, and muscles and bones hurt. I take paracetamol. Ibuprofen is not recommended with plegridy. Xx
Hi @MariaB123, You poor love, how awful, I really hope you feel a lot better soon, the only thing you can do, so rest,rest and more rest, don’t push yourself, you need to build yourself right back up, like Hnak dog said, maybe some Ibuprofen.
Sending BIG ((((((HUGS))))))
Jean x
Sounds miserable! My best wishes for a good , calm recovery and , other than some probably unavoidable temporary worsening of MS symptoms, absolutely no longer term effects on MS. All the best
It’s common in children two of mine had it recently luckily I didn’t. It’s most likely one of those illnesses that kids can brush off lightly but it hits adults and the more vulnerable harder.
It’s not pleasant so I wish you a speedy recovery
I think I feel like an 80 year old lady today. Temperature and the rash are hoing away though. The systemic pain in all my limps remains. Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you. Neurologically speaking, I should be OK I think. The pain is muscular, and in the joints. The problem is that any infection is pretty bad for people with MS. Our immune system is already compromised.
Indeed, a friend also told me the same. Her kids picked it up at school last year, they were ok in 3 days. I am glas you didn’t have it. I think that mist adults don’t get it that easily. My husband, who is taking care of me, has not shown a single sign of infection yet.
Hello friends, just an update.
I have been having so much pain in both arms and legs I worry in case it’s a relapse, so I have reached out to the MS nurse. I know it may be a symptom of the virus (it is), but I can’t be sure. I had my routine annual MRI for my MS last week, on the very first day this virus started. It may give us some clues. Meanwhile, I have been taking prescribed cocodamol, because nothing else works. I have not been at work this week. I am trying to keep positive, watching comedies, because at the end of the day, I am not giving up. Things will get better. Xx
Bless you I hope it eases soon! Hard to know what’s ms or something else but luckily you may get some answers. I say luckily but a relapse on top of hand foot and mouth really wouldn’t be! X
Hello friends,
Just to update you, I really worry that this virus has now triggered a relapse, this time affecting both legs and both arms. I am already in contact with my personal MS nurse. Just trying to think positive.
I have neurological pain in all limps, but no pins and needles. The pain is intense, I am on prescription painkillers. I had an MRI 9 days ago… it may or may not show the issue, and I may have to repeat it.
I talked to a lovely amazing MS nurse here at the MS Society (called Jennifer) who explained a few things to me. We are blessed that the MS Society offers so much support through the helpline!
I suppose now it’s a wait and see for me. I will keep you updated, but this incident clearly shows how a virus can trigger a relapse, even if someone is on DMT (I am on plegridy).
I haven’t been to work since Wednesday last week, will try to go back on Monday but my boss doesn’t know about the MS. I am thinking about changing jobs anyway, because working in a clinic (as I currently do) exposes me to viruses.
Sending you all positive energy. 
Maria
Hi Maria. Sorry to hear all that. Yep, as I understand it viral or bacterial infections can certainly trigger a relapse ( hence Covid vaccination and , for me Shingles vaccination). In spite of Covid vaccination I once got bad Covid which made my symptoms much much worse for a while . I’ve always had problems with my right leg but for a while my left leg became pretty useless as well - basically couldn’t walk at all for a few days ( relied on a small folding scooter to get me from bed to bathroom and back). Later MRIs didn’t show any new lesions so what’s in my mind is that infections and resulting inflammation can result in symptoms becoming much much worse including sort of previously ‘hidden symptoms’ - ones that exist but not at a noticeable level. It took a few months but my right leg returned to pre-Covid functioning and my left leg was fine ( presumably the relevant area of my CNS has damage but not enough to cause noticeable symptoms - until an infection causes some inflammation)
Hello Hank_Dogs 
Thank you for taking the time to get back to me. I also had a tough time with COVID (despite being vaccinated), but this time, hand, foot and mouth disease has hit me three times as hard!
If you don’t mind me asking, since they didn’t find any new lesions on your MRI after the incident, did they confirm it as a relapse, or was it more likely a pseudo-relapse?
Thanks again,
Maria
I can’t remember how it was ‘labelled’ but I remember a chat with the MS Nurse about temporary worsening.
I’ve never had an MRI of my spine and I do wonder if in fact a new lesion developed on my spinal cord . I will never know but the good thing is that no long lasting new symptoms developed
It did take a while to die down ( maybe 6 -7 months of gradual return to ‘normal’ ). In my mind that long period was a result of my immune system taking a long time to calm down fully and things in general to return to normal ( along the lines of ‘long Covid’).
I very much hope that in your case it’s also just a temporary worsening.
This is not what I wanted to read I’m so sorry it’s triggered your ms in a big way. I really hoped it wouldn’t be that way. Sending hugs and healing thoughts to you!