Worried about relapse?
Every day matters – so take a moment to congratulate yourself for having persisted with your MS therapy for so long. You may or may not have experienced a new episode of disease activity since you started therapy. Either way, it’s important to keep your expectations of treatment realistic, so you are better able to cope in the event of a relapse.
Although relapses can’t always be avoided, it’s important not to allow a possible relapse to throw you off course. Progression or worsening of MS is the #1 reason for quitting after a few years of therapy; it accounts for 33% of treatment discontinuations, which are often regretted later. You can avoid this by managing your expectations of disease-modifying therapy, and to know how to distinguish a relapse from a short-term worsening of symptoms. You also need to know how to identify and eliminate possible triggers of a relapse or pseudo-relapse. Finally, it’s important to be prepared to seek appropriate treatment during and after your relapse, and to access practical and emotional support when you need it.