Hi everyone. I’m curious to know whether most of you find that your relapses are similar each time (ie same symptoms), or do they vary considerably? Kaz xx
Hi Kaz, I have had 2 relapses some 14 months apart and both have displayed completely different symptoms. However, saying this, a relapse can also be a reoccurrence of the same symptoms or new symptoms lasting for more than 24 hours. Hope this helps. Tracey
My ms started with weird sensations all down my left then went to my right, but this was numbness instead. Then I got foot drop and arm tremors on the right. However I have been left with exactly the same symptoms both sides even though the active symptoms were different, odd! This was in the space of 4 months.
That’s great 
Thank you Tracey x
Thank you pudding lover Your first episode sounds exactly like my last relapse. My first was optic neuritis. I’ve been left with a lot of leg related symptoms since the last one, and my fatigue has worsened considerably. I think because there are so many varied symptoms with MS I’ve found I often wonder if I’m heading for another relapse but they invarianbly pass. I’m sure I’ll know about it when I get another proper relapse. Although I’m starting beta interferon in a couple of weeks so fingers crossed I won’t get any! Kaz xx
Hi Kaz
That’s exactly how I felt for the first few years - I often used to worry that every little flare up of symptoms was going to be a full relapse but found that if I rested they would ease off. You are right - you will know about it when you get a proper relapse.
If your symptoms flare up and continue to get worse for more than 24 hours and you don’t have an infection or fever then chances are it is a relapse. Normally your GP or nurse will test your urine for infection if there are no obvious viruses present like a cold for instance. If it has been more than a month since a previous relapse, then it will be considered a separate relapse and you will need to make sure it is logged on your health records. Depending on its severity you may decide to take steroids to speed up recovery although they don’t affect the long term recovery rate.
Hope this helps.
Tracey xx
Thats very helpful, Tracey. Thank you 
I had steroids with my last relapse and hated them, the side effects were awful. Really hoping I won’t need them again! 
Kaz xx
Yes, I hate steroids too so will only take them when I really cannot walk. They don’t affect the overall recovery from a relapse, they just kick start recovery so you can always refuse them. I did at my last relapse.
Tracey x
I had steroids in hospital but wasn’t offered them for my other relapses as they were within 3 months of each other I was told. I didn’t get many side effects from them though apart from insomnia for a few days when I was on IV and an increase in appetite. Other people have said there were horrible side effects, what sort of things can happen then? Sorry if I am accidentally hijacking this thread.
That’s good to know Thank you x
Yes to both. There are bits of me that my MS finds particularly tasty and keeps coming back to, but just as often (and usually as part of the same general flare of MS activity) there will be completely out of the blue new stuff.
Alison
Here’s a link to what the MS Society says about side effects on the main part of this site: http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-is-ms/types-of-ms/relapsing-remitting-rrms/managing-relapses
They are wonderful drugs, but the doctors do not like to deploy the steroid big guns too often because, like all powerfully effective drugs, steroids carry risks of their own.
Alison