UTI new Flare ?

[tambrown]

I found out I have a UTI and I did'nt know it . I've been havin a whole slew of sx The newest is leg weakness in both legs .

My first flare pretty much only affected my rt side . can it affect only your legs ? I have some weakness in arms an hands but not as bad as my legs .

I'm frustrated as to what to do . I called my neuro and all he wanted to know is if I had a UTI or bladder infection . Whats that about ? Any wisdom would help Thank you , Tammy

[MSSINCE09]

psuedo flare

Every time I feel like I am having a flare my neuro asks if I am having any urinary symptoms. She tells me that an uti can make you feel like you are having a flare. She always tests me for UTI and then starts steroids. Hope the UTI going away makes you feel better.

[Sequoia]

A "silent" UTI (no symptoms) causing a pseudoexacerbation is such a common thing, it makes sense that your neuro would ask about one.

[MrsChip]

Hiya sweet, almost certainly temporary exacerbation

Hi Sweet,

I've had MS for more of my life than not. Started at 17, dg at 21, now 43.
UTI's or indeed any other infection will bring back old symtoms or make existing deficits worse.
Good news is that once you beat the infection, its 95% likely to resolve as quick as it came.
Love ya
Rae
xxx

[Redwings]

Infections trigger an immune response, which includes inflammatory chemicals and a rise in body temperature. Both of those can cause an increase in existing symptoms without an attack on the central nervous system. So that increase in symptoms is a pseudoexacerbation, not a real (actual) MS flare. Pseudoexacerbations in the presence of infection are so common that the McDonald criteria's definition of an attack/exacerbation/flare specifically excludes increases in symptoms in the presence of fever or infection. UTIs aren't uncommon with MS. So, Tammy, that's why your doctor wanted to know if you had a UTI.

[tellnhelen]

This topic has particular interest for me. I've had so many UTIs in the last 6 mos that I taking 2 steps right now. First, I made appt with urogynologist. Just DON'T feel that nuero or pcp have the answer. While I wait for that appt in June, I'm taking a six-wk course of antibodics to stop infection and keep it gone....Just tryn to get better answers. I'm kinda upset that these UTIs have undone most of the hard work of PT..I'm start'n over.

[lusciousleaves]

Infections trigger an immune response, which includes inflammatory chemicals and a rise in body temperature. Both of those can cause an increase in existing symptoms without an attack on the central nervous system. So that increase in symptoms is a pseudoexacerbation, not a real (actual) MS flare. Pseudoexacerbations in the presence of infection are so common that the McDonald criteria's definition of an attack/exacerbation/flare specifically excludes increases in symptoms in the presence of fever or infection. UTIs aren't uncommon with MS. So, Tammy, that's why your doctor wanted to know if you had a UTI.

Natural curiosity here, thought I might ask. How do inflammatory chemicals cause an increase in symptoms without causing more damage? And does this happen in absence of a fever with an infection?

Can an infection also cause a real exacerbation and how would one know the difference?

[rdmc]

This topic has particular interest for me. I've had so many UTIs in the last 6 mos that I taking 2 steps right now. First, I made appt with urogynologist. Just DON'T feel that nuero or pcp have the answer. While I wait for that appt in June, I'm taking a six-wk course of antibodics to stop infection and keep it gone....Just tryn to get better answers. I'm kinda upset that these UTIs have undone most of the hard work of PT..I'm start'n over.

f

A urogyn is a good place to start, that and a urologist. I've been seeing a urogyn for years, and urologist but still can't get a handle on my frequent UTIs (now I'm getting about one a month.) I've tried everything they've suggested, had every test imaginable, tried natural products, long term antibiotics, short term antibiotics, prophylactic antibiotic, self cathing...nothing seems to be effective...and my UTIs don't cooperate, they change the type of bacteria every time, so I have to change meds once the culture comes in. Now some bacteria have become resistent to certain meds...and I've developed allergies to certain antibiotics because I've had to use them so much.

It's one of those inexact sciences that we MSers have to deal with. You get a UTI, your MS goes crazy, they put you on a med, they run a culture, they get back to you 5 days later and say "oops" wrong antibiotic, take this antibiotic...all the time dealing with increased MS symptoms. I know that's the way it has to happen but it's so frustrating.

So cover all your basis, and make sure those doctors understand that you're just not a normal person having a UTI, that your MS is running rampant because of it. I don't think the average urologist understands that...my urogyn does.

And I just wanted to pass this on, I've finally been referred to a neuro-urologist. I didn't even know they existed, but they're specialists in dealing with urology problems caused by neuro diseases/conditions. This one i at a Univerity medical center...I think that's where you find them. So hopefully, he'll have some solutions.

Hope you find a solution for yours.

To Tambrown....it's very normal for them to ask about the UTI. When I walk in to have my baclofen pump adjusted, first thing they ask is "Are you dealing with a UTI?" because if I was the UTI might be causing the increased spasticity and I might not be needing an up in dosage on my pump. I'm not sure how you tell the difference between a UTI and a bladder infection?