The World of Multiple Sclerosis
In MS, the immune system
attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes
communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the
nerves.
Signs and symptoms of MS
vary widely and depend on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are
affected. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently
or at all, while others may experience long periods of remission without any
new symptoms.
There's no cure for
multiple sclerosis. However, treatments can help speed recovery from attacks,
modify the course of the disease and manage symptomMS-related nervous system damage.
Multiple sclerosis signs and
symptoms may differ greatly from person to person and over the course of the
disease depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Symptoms often
affect movement, such as:
Numbness or weakness in one
or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time, or your
legs and trunk
Electric-shock sensations
that occur with certain neck movements, especially bending the neck forward
(Lhermitte sign)
Tremor, lack of coordination
or unsteady gait
Vision problems are also
common, including:
Partial or complete loss of
vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement
Prolonged double vision
Blurry vision
Multiple sclerosis symptoms
may also include:
Slurred speech
Fatigue
Dizziness
Tingling or pain in parts of
your body
Problems with sexual, bowel
and bladder function
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you
experience any of the above symptoms for unknown reasons.
Disease course
Most people with MS have a
relapsing-remitting disease course. They experience periods of new symptoms or relapses
that develop over days or weeks and usually improve partially or completely.
These relapses are followed by quiet periods of disease remission that can last
months or even years.
Small increases in body
temperature can temporarily worsen signs and symptoms of MS, but these aren't
considered true disease relapses.
At least 50% of those with
relapsing-remitting MS eventually develop a steady progression of symptoms,
with or without periods of remission, within 10 to 20 years from disease onset.
This is known as secondary-progressive MS.
The worsening of symptoms
usually includes problems with mobility and gait. The rate of disease
progression varies greatly among people with secondary-progressive MS.
Some people with MS
experience a gradual onset and steady progression of signs and symptoms without
any relapses, known as primary-progressive MS.
Jan Ricks Jennings, MHA,
LFACHE
412.913.0636 Cell
724.733.0509 Office
October 10, 2021
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