Multiple sclerosis: symptoms as unique as we are

I was talking with a friend who, like me, has multiple sclerosis.What fascinates me is how wildly different the symptoms can be from one person to another.

We can have the same diagnosis and still live completely different realities.For her, it’s the heat that drains her.For me, it’s the cold that locks everything up.And around us, it’s something else again — numbness, fatigue, pain, or sometimes… almost nothing.

MS isn’t a single story. It’s thousands of versions of the same word.

La température : mon déclencheur numéro un

Cold gets to me. As soon as the temperature drops, my body tightens up. My legs stiffen, like everything inside me freezes.

Hot water, on the other hand… that’s my reset. It loosens everything, gives me back some movement, a bit of softness.

People often say heat makes MS symptoms worse — and it does, for many.But not for everyone.I’m definitely one of those who function better when it’s warm.

Nerve sensations

Electric shocks, tingling, numbness…Sometimes they appear out of nowhere, sometimes right after a bit of effort or stress. It’s like the current isn’t flowing properly through the wires.

The body becomes unpredictable — one day everything’s fine, the next a leg just stops cooperating. You learn to dance with it, to stop panicking.

The invisible fatigue

MS fatigue isn’t just being tired.

It’s a weight that sits in your whole body — sometimes right from the morning, for no reason.

It can last for hours or disappear suddenly.

It’s frustrating, especially when from the outside, you “don’t look sick.”

Focus, memory, and the mind

Some days, words slip away. You search for a name, a sentence, a simple memory. It feels like a little fog drifting through your head.

It often goes hand in hand with fatigue, heat, or stress.I’ve learned to be gentler with it: if my brain slows down, it’s because it needs space.

Tone and stiffness

Cold locks me up; warmth releases me.

That shifting tone is like an inner barometer — it tells me where I’m at.

When everything tightens, I know it’s time to slow down, stretch, and breathe.

What we put in our bodies matters too

Not everyone reacts the same way to what they consume.Certain foods, smells, or products can wake up symptoms, while others calm them down.

Over time, I’ve learned to listen.When something triggers a reaction, I take note — without judging or forcing myself.

It’s not an exact science; it’s a kind of listening.Every body has its own language.

The wheelchair image

When people hear “multiple sclerosis,” many picture a wheelchair right away.It’s often the first image that comes to mind.

But the reality is much broader than that.Some people need one, others never do.And even for those who use it, it’s not always — sometimes only for long distances or tougher periods.

MS isn’t all or nothing.There are countless shades between “I walk” and “I can’t walk,”and we don’t talk enough about those shades.

In summary

People often talk about “MS” as if it’s one single illness.But in truth, there are as many kinds of MS as there are people living with it.

Lesions don’t tell the whole story.Our days, our seasons, our choices, our emotions — all of that changes how it shows up.

What I’ve learned is that the most important thing is to listen to my body.Food, stress, warmth, rest — it all matters.And the more I listen, the better I get at avoiding flare-ups and keeping my balance.