Falls and MS

Patient questions are coming in:

Question:

Dr. Kantor, I have a question. When someone without MS breaks a leg or pulls a muscle, they go thru therapy, etc. and eventually heal and can walk perfectly again. Is it different for someone with MS?

I recently fell down stairs and severely pulled my tendon on my left calf muscle. I have MS and before this accident, I was walking fine without assistance. Now I am in a wheelchair, use a walker to get to the bathroom.

Is there any need to notify my neurologist, about this. Is this going to be a permanent injury because I have MS? Or will it take twice as long to heal than a non-MS person?

I'm very scared that I won't ever get back to walking normal again.

Please help me understand. Thanks

Answer:

I hope your leg feels better soon.

I encourage you to speak to your neurologist (she knows your situation best). But, to answer your question: People with MS may take longer to heal, especially since there may be other reasons for the problems with walking, besides the fall (i.e. the MS itself). Also, please remember that -- just like MS -- everyone's tendon damage may be different (you commented that it was "severe").

Without knowing your individual situation, there is no reason to think that you won't be up and walking like you did before the injury -- it just may take longer than most people. Also, please make sure to talk with your neurologist and with your primary care physician to make sure there isn't a different reason for the walking difficulty (or an actual fracture).

The question of whether trauma may worsen MS or cause a relapse (flair or exacerbation) is up for grabs, and it seems like we have a new theory every 10 years, or so.

A big question is, why did you fall in the first place -- and what can you do to prevent it in the future.

We all hope you feel better.

- Dr. Daniel Kantor, MD BSE
Medical Director
Neurologique

info@neurologique.org
www.neurologique.org