My First Major Exacerbation

An account of my experience with my first major Multiple Sclerosis relapse and an "MS hug", what it felt like, and some of the thoughts that were going through my head.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• multiple
• sclerosis
• exacerbation
• attack
• relapse
• remission
• relapsing
• remitting
• m.s.
• ms
• symptoms
• depression
• anxiety
• worry
• diagnosis
• disease

[TheVillain365]

can anyone tell me how long the leg weakness lasts for?

[librarising79]

@TheVillain365: No, unfortunately, everybody is different and each case is unique. It could last for a few days, a few weeks, or in some cases, can be permanent.

[Oozingmachismo24]

LoL....I love "ms specialists"."ms experts". .And how exactly does she know that the nerve damage in your spine is permanent? Oh wait..she doesn't. If the symptoms go away then the nerve damage cannot be permanent. A little something known as remyelination..".Permanent" nerve damage usually does not set in until disease has been active for a long time. i.e spms..By the way an "ms expert" is somewhat of an oxymoron...

[librarising79]

I know what you mean, but I don't recall if she actually told me that the damage to my spine was permanant, I assumed that it was common knowledge, hence all the controversy over stem cell research.

[guitarobsessed85]

@librarising79 How quickly do the symptoms come on usually? How long to they last normally? Do they progress over a period of a few weeks? Or do they just come on over the course of a few days and then last however long they're going to?

[librarising79]

@guitarobsessed85 I would have to go with the latter; they came on over the course of a few days. That was the only major exacerbation that I've had so far, where I experienced an MS hug. It started down in my legs and gradually worked it's way up to my chest. I don't remember how many days/weeks it lasted. It would be different for everybody.

[sleekcartim]

Your description of symptoms is excellent. I have lots of problems with hands / forearms, like you. I have exactly the same situation, right down to the stiff hands, which i never hear anyone mention. Im sure my PCP will blame it on arthritis, but i know better. I see someone made fun of the MS specialist lable, well, i strongly suggest MS ppl get with one, cuz im tired of regular docs demonstrating their arrogant ignorance on this.

[lndmkmy]

librarising, I've given birth and also have the MS Hug and yes there is a similarity with contractions.

[kylewitherspoon]

I have MS as well, and your description of what MS feels like was fantastic. I was diagnosed 7 years ago at 33 at the top of my career then all of a sudden it came crashing down. But I've improved over 60% because I'm on Tysabri. Ask your Doc about it. I was in a wheelchair and now I'm not. It's a monthly infusion, and I only get MS symptoms right around a day or 2 before my infusion.

[missalgernon]

Hello! Tough story. Thanks for sharing. You're right that MS is mostly very manageable. You seem to have a good attitude! Even the numbness you think is permanent may still go away. And spinal lesions CAN heal - I'm living proof! I had some huge ones and was in a wheelchair, now thanks to diet and stress management better than I've ever been and the lesions have dissapeared.

[scotiagurl19]

Thank you so much for sharing your story

[TheVillain365]

hi, thank you for the reply. bless. i believe im experiencing my very first ms attack. this is not fun. i had muscle twitches for like 5-6 months. did tests,its nothing. then my left hand went numb, and arm pain. that got brushed off. then my left leg lost all its feeling, i was pretty traumatized, they still couldnt figure it out. and now, in the past month, absolutely everything, headaches, electro-shocks, fainting, memory loss, fatigue, weakness in legs, sight, breathing, why god....why :(