Hi Abby,   It sounds like your friend's neurologist may have told her that she has progressed from Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) to Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS).  Or maybe that she no longer has a "benign" case of MS.    By your description, it sounds like she is having more relapses and is not returning to her baseline after each relapse.  Over time damage can accumulate and disability can also accumulate.  I'm not a medical professional, but it sounds like you've answered part of your own question.  Yes, I think that it means her body isn't recovering as well as before.   But the question of whether her muscles will recover doesn't have a good answer.  They might, they might not.  There have been MS relapses I've had where I didn't recover from some of symptoms for over 6 months.  And there are symptoms which are with me all the time, just varying in intensity when MS is acting up.   If your friend is having difficulty with her walking, I highly recommend that she ask for a referral to a physical therapist who specializes in neurology patients.  There may be things she can do to improve her muscle strength and coordination.  Physical therapy is a valuable experience and it has helped me to improve my gait (walking), strength, and balance.   Tell your friend not to give up.  There are ways she can continue to tackle her MS.