I'm pretty sure the words "exacerbation" and "flare" can be used interchangeably. I tend to do that, altho lately I've preferred the word "flare" because it's easier to say when you're kvetching (complaining) to your neuro about any new symptoms. (I've done quite a bit of kvetching to my neuro over the last 3 months...stupid MS is picking on me!)

I googled this since I dont think my MS brain will be able to type out a coherent explanation tonight (like I said, the MS is picking on me). I got the info from About.com's Multiple Sclerosis site

"The Official Definition of a Relapse
The official international definition of a relapse is “a period in which a person with MS experiences an acute worsening of function that lasts for at least 24 hours, usually lasting for several days or weeks, followed by an improvement that lasts for at least one month.” To get even more specific, the symptoms associated with a relapse will develop over a couple of days, remain the same for three to four weeks, then slowly get better over a period of about a month. "

Also from that same page

"You can suspect a relapse if you answer “yes” to the following questions:

* Am I experiencing new symptoms or worsening of existing symptoms?
* Has this worsening happened over the course of 24 hours to a couple of days?
* Have these symptoms lasted more than 24 hours?
* Has it been at least a month since my last relapse? (In other words, had these symptoms been non-existent or stable for at least 30 days before they appeared or got worse?)
* Am I free of fever or infection?"

linkage back to the page if you want to read more http://ms.about.com/od/multiplescler...pse_or_not.htm

and here's a page that explain the pseudo-exacerbation
http://ms.about.com/od/signssymptoms...intoleranc.htm

Thanks for the help from eveyone. I get alot of helpful information from everyone on this site, I check in every so often because it does help when you know you are not the only person with issues with MS. When people find out you have it they do tell you of someone they know who has no problems at all, I act like I feel fine even when I do not, so I may be one of those people. It's hard not doing things with your family so I tend to go when I should'nt.

I just call it ATTACKS!
Cause when I`m in a bad mood Or its hot, Or I`m in a bad mood AND its hot Or I`m in a bad mood AND its hot AND I`m having an attack(gotta cover all bases) I wanna just Attack something anything! I`ve base-balled a few garden plants to death `man did that feel good`

I was also DX in 2007 Kat, and I have come to believe only we the patients understand what we feel - our bodies do talk to us
So if Mr or Ms Nero tells you otherwise you just set them straight.

Another thing I will repeat as so many here have said
We are all different or as I decided to call myself when I was diagnosed with atypical MS -
I`m special` Your special and you will figure this out, with support from this forum and keep asking questions