Got a cold and now MS symptoms worse..!!
Hi is it possible that having just a common cold (Sniffles, sneezes and sore throat) can bring on a worsening of my mobility symptoms...??. My legs don't want to move very well today (Not that I was ready to run any marathons but I could walk wonkily with a stick..) they feel more NUMB than usual and I am exhausted (been 5 days of feeling drained.. :( Had a nettle tea given to me on Thursday and lets just say the "Detox" effects lasted for 2 days...and left me feeling REALLY drained). I'm upset as I have arranged to meet a couple of friends for coffee later who don't know I have MS and now it may become apparent that I have issues with walking.. not so consistent with having a bad back, which is what I tell people who ask "Why the stick ?" ..and BTW I do really have a bad back but I had back injections a few weeks ago and that has helped with the pain but didn't get out of the starting blocks as far as improving my mobility with MS concerned. Going to make the effort to meet them .. got to get out of my house while I still can... Laters peeps..
@Northernlass , any little bug or infection, which activates our compromised immune system, can cause a "pseudo-exacerbation". This is explained as follows :- "A pseudoexacerbation is a temporary aggravation of MS symptoms - including muscle weakness, tingling, spasms and vision difficulties - that have previously appeared in the patient. Typically, a pseudoexacerbation lasts 24 hours or less. In the majority of MS patients, a pseudoexacerbation is triggered by a rise in body temperature, which, in turn, may be caused by fever (due to infection), the environment (e.g., sun exposure, a hot bath), or exercise (e.g., mowing the lawn). Once the stressor causing the rise in body temperature is removed, symptoms quickly disappear. Though "pseudo" may seem to imply that the aggravation is "fake," the symptoms are, in fact, very real. It is important to note, however, that unlike a true exacerbation - which involves an actual worsening of the disease that may last from several days to several weeks, or longer - a pseudoexacerbation represents disease flare-up, not disease progression. Pseudoexacerbations occur because the central nervous system doesn't operate as efficiently at higher temperatures, and therefore even the slightest rise in temperature can cause the body to mimic an MS attack. During a pseudoexacerbation, the body is essentially unmasking symptoms of a previous inflammation, causing them to reappear. To prevent a pseudoexacerbation from occurring, MS patients should take care to avoid overexertion, combine exercise with rest, and limit exposure to the sun and other hot environments (e.g., whirlpool baths)." Taken from http://www.lahey.org/Departments_and_Locations/Departments/Multiple_Sclerosis_%28MS%29_Center/Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx
Thanks @Stumbler I have just gotten back from coffee with my friend, it was so nice to catch up with my her over a cuppa outside of my house..(been in for days). Glad I made the effort but now I am really pooped.. :( I hope this is just a Pseudoexacerbation and it sod off in a day or so... or maybe it is all from drinking that "Healthy" nettle tea and now this cold... :-/ Fingers, eyes and legs crossed (if I can move them into place... stubborn buggers).. Here's to veg'ing out on the sofa because I feel as weak as a kitten...