Is an MS Flare-Up the Same as a Relapse?

An MS relapse is also known as a flare-up, exacerbation, or attack. For a true relapse or flare-up, worsened symptoms need to last at least 24 hours and occur at least 30 days after a previous relapse.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition that causes problems with your central nervous system (CNS). With this autoimmune disorder, your immune system mistakenly attacks myelin throughout the CNS, leading to scar tissue or plaques. Myelin is the protective sheath around nerve cells.

While everyone with MS experiences this condition differently, it’s commonly known for causing periods of relapses and remission. As MS progresses, there may be fewer times of remission, with symptoms becoming steadier.

People often use the terms “flare-up” and “relapse” interchangeably when talking about MS, though you’re more likely to hear the latter. Aside from key terminology, here’s the important information you need to know about MS relapses.

What defines an MS flare-up or relapse?

An MS flare-up is a period when your symptoms are worse than usual because of increased CNS inflammation. Flare-ups also occur in other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In MS, a flare-up is also called a relapse. Other common names for a relapse include exacerbation or attack. For symptoms to constitute a true flare-up or relapse, they must occur for 24 hours or longer and develop 30 days or longer after a previous relapse.

During an MS relapse, you may experience new neurological symptoms or existing symptoms that increase in severity or flare up. The term “relapse” is most often used in this condition because of its varying periods of remission and exacerbations.

Symptoms of an MS flare-up

Some of the most common symptoms seen during an MS relapse or flare-up include:

• fatigue
• vision problems
• cognitive difficulties
• numbness
• stiffness
• spasticity
• difficulty with balance and walking
• bladder and bowel problems

What is a pseudo-relapse in MS?

Sometimes, symptoms similar to an MS relapse may occur due to worsening of preexisting symptoms. This is known as a pseudo-relapse. It’s not due to any new inflammation or active disease. Stress, heat, or an infection can triggerTrusted Source a pseudo-relapse.

Pseudo-relapses do not require treatment with corticosteroids. An MRI can help doctors distinguish between a pseudo-relapse and a true relapse.

Article received from Healthline.com