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.