What is the best way to handle a relapse?

[Pghnana]

Hi. I''m new to this site and have a question about relapses. I was diagnosed in early 2010 and have been taking Copaxone. I've been doing very well until last week when I ended up with a virus that lasted 1-2 days. Then I was hit with extreme fatigue and muscle weakness in my left arm, which I recognize as a possible relapse. This would be my first major relapse in about 2 or 3 years.

What is the best way handle this? Do I get as much rest as I can or do I just push myself to move? Right now all I can do is sit around and try to eat as much protein as I can to get back my energy. I don't know how long it will take to feel back to normal.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[spcrowley]

Sorry to hear about the flare. I was diagnosed in 2002 and have had 3 significant flares. With each flare I received a 5 day steroid infusion that resolved the physical and cognitive issues I experienced. The 1st was administered in the hospital with the 2nd two is the comfort of my home.

[0485c10]

I'm thinking....you don't want to report it and do steroids?

i'm thinking of other ways, nothing jumps out at me right now...but i do know pushing yourself is the wrong thing to do. everytime i have done that i have eventually told myself after the relapse has resolved that i had been very stupid not to just take it easy ubtil it resolved. pushing myself just made me frustrated gave me bad memories of the effort.

take it easy, avoid stress is the best way i have found.

[Mamabug]

If a relapse is minor, some people seem to get by without steroids.

My relapses are usually fairly severe. I always report them right away and get on steroids. Even the minor ones, for me, do not go away on their own and become severe, in time, if I don't take steroids.

I end up in the hospital. Most people don't have flares like I do though.

~ Faith

[BigA]

It's possible that it wasn't a real relapse, only a pseudo relapse. In any case, if you don't need steroids, you don't need them. They don't actually help you, they just speed up recovery that's going to happen in any case.

But I'd bet you didn't have a real one. Increased fatigue can be from the virus. I just got over a cold and felt terrible for weeks.

But here's a very good explanation of what to do from a good hospital:

https://www.virginiamason.org/workfi...acerbation.pdf

[BigA]

Here's another good article on Exacerbations:

http://ms.about.com/od/multiplescler...s_relapses.htm

[Shiela]

BigA--Thank you for posting those articles. They were VERY helpful.

[hope32]

I'd check in with your dr and see what they think. I agree that it might be a pseudoexacerbation.