Cumulative effect of RRMS
Last Friday, when I awoke, I became aware that from my buttocks down to and including my feet I was numb. Having been diagnosed with RRMS in 1991, at the age of 52, my immediate assessment of my condition was that it was caused by my MS. Over the years since my diagnosis I have able to free myself of the psycho-emotional triggers in me that caused MS relapses but the mis-programming in my immune system unchanged. Consequently should I get an infection as soon as my immune system responds to the infection it also attacks my nerves with increased vigour causing an MS relapse. This was certainly not the case on Friday as I am perfectly healthy but what I have gotten used to, over many years now, is a constant burning sensation in both my thigh muscles. I put this down to the persistent mis-programmed action of my immune system. It's cumulative effect, it seems to me, has now resulted in the numbness which I awoke with last Friday.
Hi @rory_short, wow, you've been diagnosed some time! I'm sure you've seen the landscape really change over time. I've only been diagnosed for three years, so very interested in what you say about the cumulative effect. I don't fully understand how this thing works at all, so it's always great to have input from a veteran! I get the very annoying burning symptom too which is also constant. Hope I can learn to also free myself of the psycho-emotional triggers, as you have done.... :-)
@rory_short , you're right about general infections affecting our MS. But it usually causes a "pseudo exacerbation", which is a temporary flare-up of MS symptoms, which resolves when the underlying infection is resolved. I would advise your medical team of this worsening of symptoms, especially as you do not believe an infection is the cause.