Well...I think all are right. I know I have felt that way. Last winter was my worst. In the hpospital Four times and I think it was just a long dragged out exacerbation. Some days I would feel energy and then wham down for a few. I think you will realize your body feels drained and completly worn out like you just ran a marathon

My last exacerbation lasted about 2 months. Worst 2 months of my life. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't eat. I couldn't tell when I was hungry. I couldn't button or unbutton my pants. I couldn't hold the phone. I couldn't use the remote control. Luckily the Olympics were happening and I love sports. The list of things I couldn't do goes on and on.
So, the exacerbation sucked and it was a couple of months of not being able to do things.
It went away. It slowly got better and I started getting feeling back.
Did I answer that right?

I do not think there has to be a NEW symptom. I think all you said can be true.
I do not know first hand because i do not have excerbations or get any treatments for the bad days because of having primary progresive ms. My day consists of some of everything and I just go with the flow. Best wishes.

This is from NMSS.org

Exacerbation

From The MS Information Sourcebook, produced by the National MS Society.

An exacerbation (also known as an attack, a relapse, or a flare) is a sudden worsening of an MS symptom or symptoms, or the appearance of new symptoms, which lasts at least 24 hours and is separated from a previous exacerbation by at least one month. The most common disease course in MS, called relapsing-remitting MS, is characterized by clearly defined acute exacerbations, followed by complete or partial recovery with no progression of the disease between attacks.

True Exacerbations Generally Last Days to Weeks
A true exacerbation of MS is caused by an area of inflammation in the central nervous system. This is followed by demyelinationthe destruction of myelin, which is the fatty sheath that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers. Demyelination results in the formation of an abnormal area called a plaque and causes the nerve impulses to be slowed, distorted, or halted, producing the symptoms of MS. One example of an exacerbation of MS would be the development of optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve that impairs vision.

An exacerbation may be mild or may significantly interfere with the individual's daily life. Exacerbations usually last from several days to several weeks, although they may extend into months. It is generally accepted that a short course of corticosteroids will cause an exacerbation to be shorter and/or less severe.

Pseudoexacerbations Temporarily Aggravate MS Problems
Sometimes an increase in symptoms has nothing to do with the underlying MS, but is caused by factors such as fever, infection, or hot weather that can temporarily aggravate MS problems. This is referred to as a pseudoexacerbation. Once the triggering event is paste.g., the body temperature returns to normal, the symptoms subside as well. Some people with MS report a worsening of their symptoms during or after periods of intense stress. Researchers are exploring the effects of stress on the immune system and its possible involvement in MS.

Remission
A remission does not mean that all the symptoms of MS disappear, but rather that a person with MS returns to the baseline that existed before the last exacerbation began.

That's a really good question. When I had my "attack" last April, it seemed to hang on for weeks. But, I never did get all the function back. I know it's improved alot, but some days my left leg just has a mind of it's own, or my left arm seems to feel heavy and I drop things alot. Other days my vision goes wacky, but the next morning I can wake up and it's fine. I think this is the confusing part of having an exacerbation or just having a residual symptom that hasn't resolved fully. If it improves, but never completely goes away, what exactly is that called???

thank you so much i'm learning allot