attacks vs flare ups

[Christine418]

Can someone explain to me the difference?

[zoefromsussex]

I was just wondering if you mayvbe meant the different between a pseudo-flare and a true relapse? A relapse is when your symptoms (or new ones) flare up for 48 hours or longer and causes lesions but the pseudo-flare is when you have, say, an infection or temp and you might get symptoms but its not a true relapse. I'm not sure I've explained  that as well as some people here can do but I think that's the basic idea! Anyway, I think it's a good thing that you're learning as much as you can...I think it helps give a feeling of control even if only a tiny bit. All the best to you, Zoe

[sllowe]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum. Do you have MS?
See the below link to our health page for: relapses and pseudos and remissions. If you'd like to know the basic differences between them.

Important to remember, MS relapses or attacks, or exacerbations (each  are often used interchangeably) are used by patients and doctors to signify disease activity) can take time to confirm.

MSers have individual experiences with MS. For example chronic problems that change, last for more than 24 hours, etc. may be an "attack" for one MSer. But, for another MSer, it may be chronic problems caused by existing damage.

Imaging does help sometimes in this regard (if activity is caught by way of contrast agent), and also the doctor and MSer knowing their MS very well. Thorough exams are important :)

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/Relapses--Pseudo-Relapses-and-Remissions/show/372?cid=36

Hope this helps.
-Shell

[kwarendorf]

Christine-

My first major relapse was more 20 years ago. I went numb from about mid-shin down on both sides. I had a bunch of tests, nobody could find anything and the feeling returned.

My second relapse was not for another 18 years. In the interim I experienced several niggling little symptoms, none of which seemed to be related and specialists I saw couldn't find anything wrong. None of these symptoms, which included tinnitus, urinary hesitancy, ED among others, were important enough on their on to pursue further.

3 years ago, following hip replacement surgery, I stared to have balance issues and difficulty controlling my left foot. (Was I channeling Christy Brown?) As it was my left hip that had been replaced I thought that was the cause. I went back to the surgeon and he couldn't find anything. The symptoms went away so I didn't pursue.

In the summer of 2010 the bottom dropped out. I had a major relapse that lead to mt DX. In discussing my history with my MS Doc, I saw how all of these things were related and caused by MS. That's why I talked about looking at The Whole rather than chasing The Parts :-) WHy wait 20 years?!

Kyle

[supermum_ms]

Hi there,

You might find reading through our health pages (found just to the right of your screen) will answer a lot of your basic questions and also answer questions you haven't thought of yet, well worth reading whilst your trying to get a better understanding of MS.

To add to what Kyle has already explained, there is also something called 'pseudo relapses', these are not a true relapse but a short term return or worsening of sx's, due to over doing it, getting over heated, infections etc. Once you've cooled down, rested etc your sx's will settle back down again and you'll go back to 'your' normal, which is unlike the behavioral pattern of a true relapse.

As to wether sx's can completely go away or not, sort of depends, eg if the sx's (symptoms) are primary or secondary, how long a person has had MS, lesion location etc there is a lot of individuality in MS, no one can really accurately predict if a sx will stay or not. Primary sx's do have a more likely predictability, lesion locations such as in the cerebellum, spinal, optic nerve, even when they do improve they still dont usually heal 100% and will leave behind the telling signs of the lesion. A newly experienced sx has a better chance of complete recovery but over time, the continual attacks will make complete recovery unlikely.

Understanding when your in a relapse vs psuedo is difficult in the begining but as you learn your limits and work out your signs, it gets easier to understand the different signs that your body is giving you. :-)

Cheers.........JJ

[Christine418]

Kyle,
Tha'ts a GREAT idea, never thought of this. thanks. 20 years!, unbelievable. Why did it take so long?
christine

[kwarendorf]

Some people have no symptoms at all and others see their symptoms ease.

I lived with MS for 20 years before knew I had it :-) See if you can get your hands on a copy of MS for Dummies. It's the first book I read after MS became a likely dx for me. It's available in electronic format for Kindle, iPad etc.

I strongly recommend it.

[Christine418]

Hi Kyle,
Thank you. I have been pre DXs with MS. I've been trying to learn as much as I can about MS. So I have another question. When MS is sleeping, do you have no symptom at all?
Christine

[kwarendorf]

Hi Christine -

I'm not really sure there is a difference. Relapse, attack, flare, exacerbation are all used to describe a period of time during which MS is active. The activity occurs following a period of remission, when MS is sleeping. This can be new symptoms or the return of old ones.

Hope this helps.

Kyle