Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be unpredictable. About 85 percent of people with MS are diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), which is characterized by recurring relapses, or flare-ups, that can be triggered by things like fatigue, infections, and illnesses.
These relapses can last anywhere from a few days to several months and, depending on their severity, may be disruptive to your day-to-day life.
Beyond sticking to your treatment plan as prescribed and living a healthy lifestyle, there’s no proven way to completely prevent MS flare-ups. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take action.
These six strategies may help you to manage your symptoms and reduce your stress levels during a relapse.
1) BE Prepared The first step to managing a flare-up is to always be prepared in case one occurs. A good place to start is to make a list of important information like emergency contact numbers, medical history details, and current medications. Keep your list in an easily accessible place in your home.
Since MS relapses can affect your mobility, consider making transportation arrangements with trusted friends or family members in the event that you can’t drive due to the severity of symptoms.
Many public transit systems offer pickup and drop-off services for people with reduced mobility. It’s worth contacting your local transit service about the process for booking a ride.
A relapse can be minor or can have more severe symptoms. In some cases, especially if there are symptoms never felt before, you may need to go to the hospital.
Seek emergency care if you experience symptoms such as significant pain, vision loss, or greatly reduced mobility.
If you think you feel an MS flare-up beginning, take care to monitor your symptoms closely over the first 24 hours, if the symptoms are those you have experienced before. It’s helpful to make sure that what you’re experiencing is actually a relapse and not a subtler shift.
External factors like temperature, stress, lack of sleep, or infection can sometimes
Although the symptoms of an MS flare-up vary from person to person, some of the most common ones include:
- fatigue
- mobility issues
- dizziness
- trouble concentrating
- bladder problems
- blurry vision
If one or more of these symptoms is present for more than 24 hours, you may be having a relapse.
However, not all relapses require a hospital visit or even treatment. Minor sensory changes or increased fatigue may be signs of a relapse, but the symptoms can often be managed at home
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