What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS), is a condition that affects the central nerve system (CNS). It damages myelin, which is the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers.

Many people with MS experience a wide range of symptoms that vary in severity and duration among patients. Relapses are symptoms that can be temporary or permanent. Others may last for days, weeks, or even months.

Symptoms

MS is a condition that affects your central nervous system (brain, spinal cord), and can cause a variety symptoms. These include fatigue, muscle problems and vision problems.

Multiple sclerosis’ exact cause is unknown. However, most experts from the Multiple Sclerosis hospital in India believe it to be an autoimmune disorder. In this type of disease, your body’s defenses – the immune system – mistakenly attack the normal tissues in the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms of MS can be mild, severe or unpredictable. They can vary from one day to the next, or even month to month depending on which part of the body is affected by MS.

Cognitive changes are a common symptom in multiple sclerosis. They affect approximately half of those diagnosed. Changes can range from short-term memory loss and difficulty concentrating to changes in how you learn and process information. Judgment and reasoning may also be affected.

MS symptoms include muscle spasms and tightness, as well as pain and tightness in your muscles. These can cause difficulty moving and walking.

Other symptoms of MS can include fatigue, bladder and bowel problems, dizziness and vertigo, vision problems, and a feeling of numbness or tingling in your face, arms or legs.

These symptoms can be frustrating and difficult to manage, especially if they affect your daily life. Keep a log of your symptoms each day to better understand how MS affects your daily life and track your progress.

Talk to your doctor if you feel that your symptoms are affecting your daily life. They can help you find a treatment plan that will work for you.

People with MS also have emotional issues. These issues can be caused by the disorder or other factors such as pressure to manage MS. These changes often include clinical depression.

MS sufferers often feel fatigued and unable to function at work or at home. It is a kind of general exhaustion that is usually unpredictable or worsened by physical activity or certain types of stress.

Diagnosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a brain and spinal cord disorder that disrupts the way your body sends signals. It can cause problems with muscle control and strength, balance, vision, and feeling and thinking. The disease damages the myelin protective covering around nerve cells. This causes signals to travel slower and not at all well.

The diagnosis of MS depends on a doctor’s examination of a patient and characteristic abnormalities found on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It may also involve blood tests to rule other conditions with similar symptoms.

A neurologist will perform neurological examinations, evoked potential tests, and a spinal MRI to check if there is evidence of demyelination. The MRI will show patches of damage (lesions) in the brain and spinal cord.

To confirm the diagnosis, a doctor may do a lumbar puncture or spinal tap to see if there are oligoclonal bands in the fluid that is withdrawn from the spine. The test also checks for a thinning around the optic nerves, which can signal problems with vision.

MS treatment typically involves medication and other medical interventions. Medications can be used to reduce or control nerve pain, muscle spasms and fatigue, as well bladder/bowel dysfunction. Physical, occupational, speech therapy can improve balance, walking, as well as other daily activities.

Cognitive rehabilitation is a treatment that helps people with MS to improve their memory and mental function. Other therapies such as massage or acupuncture may also prove useful.

A neurologist may work with other doctors and health care professionals to treat MS. These professionals include a physician, neurologists as well as physical and occupational therapists, nurses and radiologists.

The goal of treatment is to modify the course of the disease and reduce flare-ups. The neurologist will also monitor and help patients with symptoms.

MS patients can have life-changing treatments that improve their quality of life. A healthy, full life is possible only if you get the disease diagnosed early. The disease can be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated before it gets serious. MS is not fatal in the majority of cases.

Treatment

Multiple Sclerosis is not curable. However, there are many medications that can be used to manage the symptoms. It is important to stay in close contact with your doctor and work with them to find the best treatment options for you.

Multiple sclerosis is diagnosed by your neurologist if there is evidence of damage to two or more parts (CNS) of your central nervous system. This could occur through small damage to the brain and/or spine cord caused by inflammation or infection.

These lesions block the brain and spinal chord from communicating properly, causing a variety of symptoms that can vary from one patient to another. These can include loss of motor function, vision changes, and fatigue.

MS is a chronic relapsing-remitting disease. These attacks and periods in remission last usually days, weeks or even months.

These attacks are also known as relapses. Symptoms can be more severe and often last for longer periods of time. They can be difficult to manage, and they often leave you feeling confused or unable to think clearly.

Relapses may occur several times per year, or more frequently. Relapses can lead to nerve damage and worsening symptoms.

Your doctor might prescribe medication to relieve some of your symptoms such as fatigue or muscle problems. Your doctor may also recommend physiotherapy or assistive devices to help you move around more easily.

Some people with MS experience pain as well, a common symptom that can be distracting and depressing. These symptoms can be controlled with antidepressants or neuropathic pain medications.

Other medications may be prescribed to treat MS-related problems, such as vision problems and walking difficulties. For example, Fampridine is used to treat balance issues and certain antidepressants can be prescribed for MS-related depression.

Other medications can be used to stop relapses or slow progression of MS. Teriflunomide and Fingolimod are two examples. Some medications, such as cladribine or ocrelizumab, can also help reduce the number of damaged cells in your body.