Yes, you can have MS symptoms without being in a clinical exacerbation. Think of it like this: an exacerbation causes inflammation and CNS damage, whether in the brain or spinal cord. The body does its best to heal those areas, but scarring often remains, which clutters up the electrical "information highway" that nerve impusles travel.

The steroids turn down the immediate inflammation, and the injectibles like Avonex moderate the immune system to reduce the likelihood of new inflammatory attacks, but doesn't stop them completely.

The symptoms that remain after an exacerbation are often referred to as "residual symptoms," and they become your "new baseline" or "new normal."

Be aware too that MS can be active even in the absence of relapses, or even if you're taking the CRAB drugs. It's a wily disease, but doing your part to keep healthy in body/mind/spirit really helps.

-Karen

Thanks, Romika! You always know so much about this disease. I feel that I have a little better understanding now. Thanks again!

Eloise

You're welcome! Sadly, the only reason I know so much is because I've gone through it. Learning everything I could about this disease (and I'm STILL learning) was a primary way of coping in the early days of my dx, and now that I've transitioned into secondary progressive disease :( it continues to be a way that I stay sane, and hopefully, help others.

Eloise,
I was dx'd with primary progressive ms. I had all the ordered tests, including a spinal tap which confirmed that it is ms - but I have NEVER had a severe exacerbation; yet the ms is 'progressing', gettin slowly worse...my balance, eyesight,etc., are affected. ms sucks