Managing relapses
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is nearly always described as a relapsing remitting condition. Essentially, this means symptoms like vision loss, numbness or weakness of a limb occur for a period of time and then improve, either partially or completely. For nearly all people with MS, this is the way their MS begins, except for the very small group of people who have primary progressive MS. By nature, MS is variable and unpredictable, and people face the uncertainty of when new relapses will occur. This section answers some frequently asked questions about relapses. It looks specifically at steroid treatment and the role of the multi-disciplinary team in managing MS relapses. Disease modifying drugs reduce the frequency of relapses and also form part of the management of MS.
- How do you define a Relapse?
- How long do relapses last?
- What causes a relapse?
- Can we predict the outcome of a relapse?
- Do relapse outcomes get worse over time?
- What symptoms can occur in a relapse?
- What are transient symptoms?
- Are all new symptoms a relapse?
- Does the reappearance of MS symptoms always mean a relapse?
- What are the differences between relapsing remitting MS and secondary progressive MS?
- How is secondary progressive MS diagnosed?
- How can relapses be managed in secondary progressive MS?
- Does everyone with relapsing remitting MS develop secondary progressive MS?
- Do people with primary progressive MS have relapses?
- What are the effects of steroids?
- What are steroids and how do they work?
- Can steroids improve my overall MS?
- When should you use steroids for a relapse?
- Are steroids suitable for everybody?
- How can many different symptoms be treated?
- What does a multidisciplinary team do?
- What is rehabilitation in the context of MS?
- How can multidisciplinary care help with relapses?
- Who is part of a multidisciplinary team?
- What does an assessment achieve?
- How do teams work in practice?
- Disease modifying drugs
- Which disease modifying drugs are available on the NHS?
- Who is eligible to get disease modifying drugs?
- What other drugs are being tested?
- How early in the course of MS should disease modifying drugs be used?
- Where can I get accurate information?
- Encouragement of wellbeing - good diet and exercise
