I'm all new to this and my Neuro was adamant about me not pointing space heaters at myself and limiting the amount of time I use heating pads.

My muscles tighten so bad in the cold I can't even walk. I've been this way my whole life and now that I have permanent disabilities I can not compensate by going slower in the cold. I pretty much need crutches on a cold day and often don't use assistive devises when it's warm outside.

Is anyone else like this?

I'm at my best when it's 65F - 80F degrees outside.

I'm like that too. I am freezing until Spring. I hate to go out until it's warmer outside.

What reason did your neuro give you for not wanting you to use the heating devices?

Cold does seem to increase spasticity…keep warm without getting overheated…are you on muscle relaxants such as baclofen or zanaflex? They help reduce spasms.

Hi ker0pi,

Some with MS are heat intolerant, some are cold intolerant and some are both.

I am both

Cold, for me, causes more leg stiffness, pain and more walking difficulties.

Heat, for me, causes an increase of fatigue, more leg weakness (unable to walk) and has been a trigger for full blown (real) exacerbations (attack, flare-up, relapse).

Heat and cold can both cause pseudo-exacerbations. These are self-limiting and do no new damage. A pseudo-exacerbation can be caused by heat, cold, the flu, virus, over doing it, or infection. Once those causes resolve themselves the person's symptoms will usually return to what is normal for them.

The reason a Neurologist doesn't want a patient to use a heating device (heating pad, electric blanket, ect) is due to the reasons I stated above for heat intolerance.

Although I am heat intolerant I treat leg pain with heat (electric blanket). I have never had a problem using an electric blanket (although sometimes I have been more fatigued doing this). I do not sleep with an electric blanket on my bed. My neuro is aware of this but is not happy about it.

Yeah...

I am the same as Snoopy. Damned if I'm cold - and damned if I'm I am hot. Both cause their own problems, though heat is worse.

Me, too. We've been having unusually cold weather here and I've noticed I have a very hard time walking. Same with the heat. It needs to stay a constant 65 degrees and I'm a happy camper.

Yes, joints stiffen up for me in the cold. That is more or less why I moved to Fl. However, it gets cold down here too. I use hand warmers in particular to get the joints to work. That soft fleese can retain heat, and helps the stiffness. Hope you are OK. ginnie

Add me to the list. I have about a ten-degree comfort range. My legs and feet are most bothered by the cold.

He just asked my why I hate myself so much. It was the initial intake and diagnosis, we didn't get to go back to that. I'm still using my microwave heating pads and add extra clothes or blankets instead of space heater.

Yes, I take baclfen 15mg 3X day, I increased from 10mg when the cold started. Going to try to go back down to 10mg in the Spring.