Most people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a type called relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). It usually starts in your 20s or 30s. If you have RRMS, you may have attacks when your symptoms flare up. These are called relapses. An attack is followed by a time of recovery when you have few or no symptoms, called remission. It can last weeks, months, or longer. The disease doesn't get worse during these breaks.
Relapsing-remitting MS is defined as MS in which patients have relapses of MS and periods of stability in between relapses. Relapses are episodes of new or worsening symptoms not caused by fever or infection and that last more than 48 hours. In other words, a stable course is punctuated by episodes of new or worse symptoms.
Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common initial form of MS. Younger patients are more likely to have this form of MS than older patients.
The symptoms of RRMS vary widely. Frequent early symptoms include:
Episodes of visual loss in one or the other eye Tingling or numbness Double vision, fatigue Urinary urgency Balance problems Weakness
No two patients have the same symptoms. Some people are sensitive to heat. Some people get a tingling feeling when they bend their neck forward (Lhermitte's symptom). Some patients will have problems with weakness or unsteadiness of walking. Some combination of symptoms is common, and symptoms may vary over time in an individual.