Relapses are caused by new inflammatory activity. They come on over a few hours to a few days and then take several weeks to improve.
Relapses can be treated acutely with steroids, although this is not always needed.
If patients have a relapse they may need to start or change immunomodulatory therapy, so they should let their MS nursing team know what has happened.
Fluctuations in symptoms lasting just a few hours or days in patients with MS are usually caused by conduction block and would not need any further treatment or input.
There are a few typical relapses which can be identified which are outlined below. If you think that you are having a relapse then the first thing you should do is contact your MS nurse.
Types of relapse
Optic neuritis
- Inflammation of the optic nerve
- Reduced vision in one eye
- Feels like everything is fading away (colours desaturating)
- Can have a black spot (scotoma) in the middle of the visual field
- Can have pain on moving the eye
Transverse myelitis
- Inflammation of the spine
- Tingling, numbness and weakness in one or both legs, one arm and leg, all four limbs, rarely, one arm
- Bladder and/or bowel involvement
Brainstem or cerebellar relapse
- Double vision which goes away when covering or closing one eye
- Balance problems
- Coordination problems
- Slurred speech
Last reviewed: 04 December 2024