It can take time and experience for you to distinguish what may or may not be a relapse...for you.

It is common to have symptoms that never go away or that come and go. For many of us, living with MS means dealing with daily symptoms. There are symptom management medications that are used to treat symptoms.

This is a list of medications and what they are used for in MS:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/abo...ons/index.aspx

If your normal symptoms start to increase and/or new symptoms show up and nothing is decreasing or stopping/starting but is consistant for at least 48 hours then you might be having a relapse.

Relapses CAN improve without the use of steroids, not all relapses require steroids. I have had 5 relapses -- 2 of them I used oral prednisone and the other 3 I have waited out. One of the relapses I waited out was quite severe.

Having said that, this disease is different for all of us as are our relapses and recovery.

Your neuro is a great resource. You do have the right to decline using steroids if that is your choice. You also have the right to ask for medication that might help with bothersome symptoms.

Execellent point!

I have had several episodes of new of the return of old sx that lasted past the 24 hour mark and recovered just fine without steroids. The use of muscle relaxers, and PT or other avenues have helped greatly. Its really rare that I agree to steroids. I save them for my visual stuff. Since I have big issues with optic neuritits I dont want to play with going blind, and NO medicine is without side effects and consequences including steroids.