Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease of the central nervous system. MS is unpredictable, affecting vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility. The effects are physical, emotional, financial, and last a lifetime. However, treatment of this disease has greatly progressed. Sufferers can now enjoy a normal life expectancy and do the things that they’ve always enjoyed. In this article, we’ll talk about the symptoms of MS and how the disease can be treated.
The disease multiple sclerosis attacks myelin, which is the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin in patches. When this happens, the usual flow of nerve impulses along nerve fibers is interrupted or distorted. The result may be the reason for the wide variety of MS symptoms, depending upon what part or parts of the central nervous system are affected. The damaged parts of myelin are often called “lesions” or “plaques.” There is evidence that permanent damage to nerve fibers may occur in association with the attack on myelin. The severity of MS, progression and specific symptoms cannot be predicted at the time of diagnosis. MS is three times more likely to occur in women than in men, and is seen most commonly in people of northern European background.
Multiple sclerosis patients will notice that their symptoms will reflect which part of the brain and spinal cord the disease is affecting. These symptoms could include vision impairment, bowel and bladder problems, frequent and intense pain and fatigue, problems with mood, memory and cognitive issues, and spasticity. The treatment for multiple sclerosis can minimize the impact of these symptoms and allow patients and their family to live a relatively normal life. MS treatment can have some side effects, so you should notify your doctor immediately if you experience an adverse reaction to your medication.
While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, there are a number of effective treatment therapies. The combination of medication, therapy and counseling has proven to be extremely beneficial to people suffering from MS. However, MS is not fatal, so with medical treatment and lifestyle changes, patients can expect to live a normal or near normal life span, thanks to continuing MS research and improvements in the treatment of symptoms. Some patients choose to explore alternative methods of treatment, but there is no clinical evidence to support claims that these methods work.
Various medications have been successful in controlling the frequency and severity of MS symptoms. While there is no cure, researchers are trying to develop techniques to repair damaged myelin and nerve fibers. Scientists are also trying to understand why the immune system attacks the body’s myelin so that these attacks can be prevented. Given enough time and funding, we can expect to someday see a world without multiple sclerosis.
