Worsening Symptoms and ProgressionAlthough worsening symptoms over time can signal the transition to a progressive course of MS, they can also be associated with relapsing-remitting MS. Your doctor will need more details to determine whether your MS may be progressing.
Gradual Worsening vs. RelapsesSecondary progressive MS is characterized by gradually worsening symptoms without periods of relapse and remission.
Relapses vs. ProgressionIf your new or worsened symptoms are left over from your last relapse, your disease course may still be a relapsing-remitting course and not yet progressive.
Leg Function Symptoms and ProgressionOne study found that people with relapsing-remitting MS who had progressed to secondary progressive MS after five years were three times more likely to have had leg function symptoms at the start of the study.
Fatigue and ProgressionFatigue is an extremely common MS symptom. More than 30 percent of MyMSTeam members report fatigue as one of their symptoms. Fatigue may also indicate a higher risk for MS progression. In one study, people whose relapsing-remitting MS progressed to secondary progressive MS after a five-year period were four times more likely to have reported fatigue as a symptom when the study began.
Sex and ProgressionMale sex is associated with a higher risk for progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis than female sex.
DMTs and ProgressionSeveral studies show that a longer period of treatment with disease-modifying therapies is the single greatest protective factor against progression to secondary progressive MS.
Age at Diagnosis and ProgressionIn a study including 19,318 people initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, those who were older than 40 at diagnosis had a higher risk for progression to secondary progressive MS than those diagnosed at age 40 or younger.
Quiz: Is My MS Progressing?
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Created on April 15, 2026
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Transcript
Worsening Symptoms and ProgressionAlthough worsening symptoms over time can signal the transition to a progressive course of MS, they can also be associated with relapsing-remitting MS. Your doctor will need more details to determine whether your MS may be progressing.
Gradual Worsening vs. RelapsesSecondary progressive MS is characterized by gradually worsening symptoms without periods of relapse and remission.
Relapses vs. ProgressionIf your new or worsened symptoms are left over from your last relapse, your disease course may still be a relapsing-remitting course and not yet progressive.
Leg Function Symptoms and ProgressionOne study found that people with relapsing-remitting MS who had progressed to secondary progressive MS after five years were three times more likely to have had leg function symptoms at the start of the study.
Fatigue and ProgressionFatigue is an extremely common MS symptom. More than 30 percent of MyMSTeam members report fatigue as one of their symptoms. Fatigue may also indicate a higher risk for MS progression. In one study, people whose relapsing-remitting MS progressed to secondary progressive MS after a five-year period were four times more likely to have reported fatigue as a symptom when the study began.
Sex and ProgressionMale sex is associated with a higher risk for progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis than female sex.
DMTs and ProgressionSeveral studies show that a longer period of treatment with disease-modifying therapies is the single greatest protective factor against progression to secondary progressive MS.
Age at Diagnosis and ProgressionIn a study including 19,318 people initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, those who were older than 40 at diagnosis had a higher risk for progression to secondary progressive MS than those diagnosed at age 40 or younger.