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Multiple
Sclerosis: A Reality
Friday, January 15, 2010
Andi Mans
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Unfortunately, almost every conversation I have had about Multiple
Sclerosis, starts with someone saying “Doesn’t that effect your
muscles?" Well, symptoms yes, but it targets your nervous system instead
of targeting the muscles. Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, sometimes
disabling disease of the central nervous system.
What causes MS?
The cause of multiple sclerosis is not yet known but scientists theorize
that it is the result of a virus or autoimmune condition in which the
body becomes allergic to itself. People with multiple sclerosis,
malfunctioning T-cells (immune system cells that patrol the
body for invaders) mistakenly attack the protective covering of nerve
cells and expose bundles of long nerve fibers. That damage makes it
difficult for the brain to transmit messages. Damage can result in
various symptoms of the disease, depending upon where it occurs in the
central nervous system. This damage is called “Lesions”.
Is it growing?
About 350,000 people in the U.S. have multiple sclerosis. Usually, a
patient is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis between 20 and 50 years of
age. Rarely there are cases
in children.
The Multiple
Sclerosis Diagnosis
Diagnosis of multiple
sclerosis can be difficult because the symptoms of the disease can be
very mild or non-existent and are similar to those of many other
diseases. So how do you know if you have it or not? I suggest not to
play doctor and diagnose yourself with “oh it’s just a pulled muscle” or
“my hand always gets numb here and there...it’s normal.” It’s not
normal, and these could be symptoms that go untreated and could cause
more damage if you do not get started on proper medication soon!
Multiple sclerosis diagnosis is often done through a review of the
patient's health history, a physical evaluation and various laboratory
tests usually involving Spinal Tap and MRI scans.
Do I have multiple sclerosis?
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be single or multiple and may range
from mild to severe in intensity and short to long in duration. Visual
disturbances may be the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but they
usually subside.
A patient may notice blurred vision, red-green distortion (color
desaturation), or sudden monocular blindness (blindness in one eye).
• Muscle weakness with or without difficulties with coordination and
balance may occur early.
• Muscle spasms, fatigue, numbness, and prickling pain are common
symptoms.
• There may be a loss of sensation, speech impediment (typically a
problem articulating words), tremors, or dizziness.
Fifty-percent of patients experience mental changes such as:
• decreased concentration,
• attention deficits,
• some degree of memory loss,
• inability to perform sequential tasks, or
• Impairment in judgment.
Other symptoms may include
• depression,
• manic depression,
• paranoia
To learn more
about Multiple Sclerosis
please take a look at
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society,
and find out how you can get involved in the Mid Florida chapter
community to support MS!
