I think it’s down to how much it’s bothering you and whether you actually want anything done about it.
In theory, you should always report a suspected relapse, as it may influence not only eligibility for treatment, but which particular treatment(s). However, I’m not sure I treat even that literally. Even a few days of a tingling finger is technically a relapse - albeit a very mild one. However, I’ve told them in no uncertain terms I won’t be reporting in every instance of tingling, if nothing more serious materialises.
I think situations where I’d feel there’s no option but to report it are MAJOR loss of function - e.g. sight, walking, continence - or “unearable” pain - but “unbearable” is subjective. “Unbearable” to some maybe merely miserable to others.
I had some exruciating cramps recently, which I did discuss with my neuro (but only because an appointment fell due anyway). After a bit of a chinwag, we nevertheless decided not to do anything about , because the drugs he might consider were moving slightly up the risk/side-effect scale from those I’m already on, and would need regular blood tests, and things like that, and increase the risk of undesirable side-effects, such as excessive sedation (I already struggle to complete a day without taking a nap). Also as this symptom is occasional, rather than continual, I was a bit reluctant to take permanent medication for it.
So, was it worth raising at all, given that we’ve decided I’ll just bear it when it happens, as painful as it is? I don’t know. I suppose the only advantage is we’ve explored all the options, and decided none of them is a clear winner over just leaving it.
I’m not sure it’s an exact science. Is a problem deeply distressing, or a mere nuisance? Are you keen to embrace treatments, or someone who prefers to be on as few as possible?
You should always report things if you’re at all suspicious they might not be MS. So far, I’ve felt quite confident things I experience always are, but I couldn’t really explain why, and I accept I might be wrong. I suppose, mentally, I’m assessing how similar or different they are to things I’ve had in the past, and if it’s quite clear they’re similar to other MSy things, I normally feel quite safe accepting they’re all part of the same thing. If I had a very unusual pain or problem, that didn’t resemble anything I’d ever had before, it might put me on alert it wasn’t MS - although I’d probably ask here and research a bit before dashing off to the doctor, in case it’s a really common MS thing, that’s just a first time for me.
I don’t think there’s a strict rule about it, any more than about when to go to the doctor if you didn’t have MS. Only you how bad it is, or how worried you are. If bad/worried then go. Otherwise not.
Tina