Stress does NOT cause MS BUT it can cause an increase in exacerbations in multiple sclerosis folks.

jackD

BMJ. 2003 Sep 20;327(7416):646.

Self reported stressful life events and exacerbations in multiple sclerosis: prospective study.

Buljevac D, Hop WC, Reedeker W, Janssens AC, van der Meché FG, van Doorn PA, Hintzen RQ.
SourceDepartment of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Postbox 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between self reported stressful life events not related to multiple sclerosis and the occurrence of exacerbations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

DESIGN: Longitudinal, prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Outpatient clinic of department of neurology in the Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 18-55 with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, who could walk with a cane or better (score of 0-6.0 on the expanded disability status scale), and had had at least two exacerbations in 24 months before inclusion in the study. Patients with other serious conditions were excluded.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The risk of increased disease activity as measured by the occurrence of exacerbations after weeks with stressful events.

RESULTS: Seventy out of 73 included patients (96%) reported at least one stressful event. In total, 457 stressful life events were reported that were not related to multiple sclerosis. Average follow up time was 1.4 years. Throughout the study, 134 exacerbations occurred in 56 patients and 136 infections occurred in 57 patients. Cox regression analysis with time dependent variables showed that stress was associated with a doubling of the exacerbation rate (relative risk 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 4.0, P = 0.014) during the subsequent four weeks. Infections were associated with a threefold increase in the risk of exacerbation, but this effect was found to be independent of experienced stress.

CONCLUSION: Stressful events were associated with increased exacerbations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. This association was independent of the triggering effect of infections on exacerbations of multiple sclerosis.

Comment in
BMJ. 2004 Jan 31;328(7434):287; author reply 287.
PMID:14500435[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC196389

I've read about something called the "Marburg variant" of MS that apparently works it's way quickly thru a person, but it's supposed to be extremely rare.

I wondered if Richard Pryor was one of those that was unlucky to have the Marburg variant, since it seemed like he went downhill fairly quickly after he announced his MS (or I'm just thinking it went quickly for him because he didnt do much entertainment-wise fairly soon after he announced it)

Richard Pryor was one of my most favorite actor/comedians when I was growing up. (yes, my parents let me and my sister listen to some of his more...risque comedy concerts when we were little) Loved all his movies that he did with Gene Wilder...I wish I didnt have MS in common with him tho...I wish that he hadnt had it either now that I know what it's like. (I wish no one had MS. It would be nice if "MS" only stood for "Microsoft")

I think Richard Pryor kept it to himself for a while. He was diagnosed while he was on drugs and he said that being diagnosed with MS helped him kick his terrible habit. This was part of his routine. Setting himself on fire didn't stop the drug abuse but he said that MS did. I can't recall which routine it came from but I'm sure he said it.

Life itself is a fatal disease and MS is not exactly a perk, so in some way I'm sure it helps our fatality along. That would be in different degrees, depending how serious our MS disease is.

It's not like heart disease, where a heart attack can take you at any moment or a bad cancer, that is eating away at your organs. But, with MS, our immune systems are somewhat comprimised, so Infections can happen and the serious ones can lead to death.

But folks, we all gotta die of something, don't we?

My insurance agent has told me that I would not be able to get a new life insurance policy due to the increased liklihood that MS will shorten my life. It is known to cause complications as the disease progresses and our bodies don't work as well as they should, such as our kidneys. But I refuse to believe that MS is a fatal disease.

I'm not sure why it is such a big deal as to whether MS is technically fatal or not.

I am far more concerned with having my life and dignity stolen from me while I continue to exist in a vegetative state than from actually croaking from MS.

Although imvho MS absolutely can be fatal in the ways already mentioned such as the aggressive versions, brain stem lesions, infections from immobility and pneumonia from being bedridden.

I think we are more likely to die from cancer or heart disease.

I'm surely more likely to die of a heart attack or be hit by a logging truck as I'm trying to cross the road!

I guess I'm bothered that people (friends, family, newly diagnosed, general public) will get the idea that MS is a 100% death sentence.

Of course, on the other hand, I'm always bothered when people get the idea that it's "just" MS, nothing really serious.

*sigh*

My understanding is that while MS isn't usually fatal, that a higher level of disability can cause the body to be more susceptible to succumbing to potentially fatal health problems like pneumonia, heart failure and so on.

I get it when people like Blessings2You post that "I'm always bothered when people get the idea that it's "just" MS, nothing really serious" though. I know my family have become so used to me that when I say 'I am really having a bad day....' or 'my MS is wiping me out - or causing pain in my legs - or making me dizzy - or making it hard to breathe....' it's becoming like 'ho hum....here she goes again...'

Lyn

Oh gosh, Lyn, I hear ya...I get so sick of people saying, "Oh, I know, my legs hurt...I get dizzy...blah blah..."

No one except an MS patient can really understand what we experience. I've had fibromyalgia for over 2 decades, and it doesn't compare...MS is so much worse.
I'm getting to the point of just saying "I'm fine" when people ask. They just seem to want to tell me that they understand because they have similar health issues...NOT!!