Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and …
Posted: August 20, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Multiple Sclerosis: Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disease and the most common neurological disease diagnosed in young adults. Multiple sclerosis commonly called MS, attacks the central nervous system and can cause significant nerve damage. The progression and severity of the disease varies greatly between individuals and it can result in a wide variety of effects, from mild to severe and disabling. These include muscle weakness, loss of balance, inability to walk, and paralysis.
The causes of multiple sclerosis are not well understood. Researchers believe that the body's immune system begins to attack its own nervous system, specifically the myelin, a fatty material that covers and insulates the nerve cells in the central nervous system. Healthy myelin is vital to the normal, rapid movement of electrical impulses through the nerve pathways.
In multiple sclerosis, patches of myelin in the brain and spinal cord become inflamed, swell, and develop lesions. Myelin and nerve cells become damaged, which wreck havoc with the normal transmission of electrical impulses.
It is believed that this process may be triggered by a combination of genetic factors and environmental elements, such as exposure to a virus or some infections.
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary greatly between individuals. In the early stages of the disease, symptoms come and go, and people with multiple sclerosis can experience periods of remission, in which symptoms disappear and periods of relapse, in which symptoms reappear. Symptoms may worsen during relapses and complications can include seizures, changes in mentation, muscle spasms, and depression.
Symptoms generally first appear between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Most often, the first symptom is visual changes. Other symptoms may include dizziness, muscle weakness, incoordination, balance problems, fatigue, trembling, abnormal sensations in the extremities, and cognitive impairment, and paralysis. For more information on symptoms, refer to symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Testing for multiple sclerosis is an involved process because there is no single test that will specifically diagnose the condition. In addition, a definitive diagnosis of multiple sclerosis may often be delayed because early symptoms are often mild, vague, disappear for periods of time, and/or may mimic other conditions. Multiple tests are needed to rule out other conditions that can be confused with multiple sclerosis or that have similar symptoms affecting the nervous system. These include some viral infections, lupus, lime disease, and vitamin deficiencies. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is generally made by a neurologist and is made based on the compilation of a thorough neurological history and physical, blood tests, a lumbar puncture, and an MRI, which may show the brain and spinal cord damage and lesions characteristic of multiple sclerosis.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but the disease can be managed and symptoms controlled to various degrees of success with a variety of medications, such as interferons, copolymer, novantrone, natalizumab, corticosteroids, and muscle relaxers. Other therapies include physical therapy, avoiding heat, regular exercise, eating a healthy well-balanced diet and maintaining an optimal weight. Equipment, such as walkers, canes, and braces may also be needed to help maintain independence. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of multiple sclerosis. ...more
Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis is a nerve or spinal cord disease that causes random damage to parts of the nervous system. The result is a diverse range of possible symptoms depending on which parts of the cord are damaged, and how often the inflammation reoccurs. Typical symptoms are any kind of tingling, numbness, burning sensations, "pins-and-needles" or other types of sensory changes in various parts of the body; also possible are vision changes (see a full list of symptoms).
Prognosis of multiple sclerosis is highly variable. Some people have very minor problems, whereas others can end up in a wheelchair, lose vision, or other nasty complications. It just depends which part of the spinal cord or nervous system is attacked. Some people have what is called a "single sclerosis" where there is only one incident of a sclerosis (lesion) on the spinal cord, and this may or may not progress to "multiple" sclerosis.
The cause of multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system is somehow triggered to mount an attack against its own good cells - in this case the cells that surround nerves. ...more
More Multiple Sclerosis animations & videos
Types of Multiple Sclerosis
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
The rest is here:
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and ...
- Most Common Multiple Sclerosis Treatments - March 21st, 2018
- Pittsburgh PA Neurologist Doctors - Multiple Sclerosis (MS ... - October 20th, 2015
- Buffalo NY Neurologist Doctors - Multiple Sclerosis (MS ... - October 7th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis - MidMichigan Health - September 27th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis | University of Michigan Health System - September 27th, 2015
- Multiple sclerosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - September 15th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis News -- ScienceDaily - September 10th, 2015
- Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms - Wikipedia, the ... - September 10th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis Pictures: MS Brain Lesions, Symptoms ... - September 6th, 2015
- Multiple sclerosis - MedlinePlus - September 5th, 2015
- Low Vitamin D Tied to Multiple Sclerosis - August 31st, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis - KidsHealth - August 31st, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis | GreenMedInfo | Disease | Natural Medicine - August 31st, 2015
- All About Multiple Sclerosis : MS news and information on ... - August 29th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Check Your Symptoms and Signs - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - When to ... - August 20th, 2015
- 13 Early Signs & Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Overview - HealthCommunities.com - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis, Causes, Tests, Diagnosis & Treatment - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis | Overview - August 20th, 2015
- multiple sclerosis (MS) | pathology | Britannica.com - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis News Topix - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple sclerosis | University of Maryland Medical Center - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis - Lab Tests Online - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple sclerosis - Genetics Home Reference - August 20th, 2015
- Medical Xpress - multiple sclerosis - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis - August 20th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments - July 12th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis. Medical information about MS | Patient - June 13th, 2015
- Stem Cell Treatment #5 for Multiple Sclerosis - Video - April 30th, 2015
- Experimental multiple sclerosis therapy stops disease in its tracks - April 13th, 2015
- Multiple sclerosis treatment on the cards for Ilfracombe mother - March 25th, 2015
- Stemedix Patient Experience - Debra F. Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) - Video - March 23rd, 2015
- Caldwell resident fighting battle with multiple sclerosis - March 13th, 2015
- 21-year-old MS sufferer: 'I feel like my life is on hold' - March 13th, 2015
- From chick to bedside: Removing the Wnt barrier - March 5th, 2015
- Woman swears by Multiple Sclerosis remedy - February 25th, 2015
- Stem Cell Transplants May Work Better than Existing Drug for Severe Multiple Sclerosis - February 12th, 2015
- Stem cells reduce MS brain damage - February 12th, 2015
- New MS Treatment - Big Hope from Little Cells - Video - January 24th, 2015
- Multiple Sclerosis Stem Cell Treatment - Patient Testimonial - Video - January 23rd, 2015
- Researchers Reduce MS Disability With Stem Cells - January 21st, 2015
- Stem cell treatment for Multiple Sclerosis - Case study - Video - January 5th, 2015
- Stopping Multiple Sclerosis with Stem Cell Transplants - December 30th, 2014
- Report on remission in patients with MS three years after stem cell transplant - December 30th, 2014
- Hunt after cure for MS disease - December 22nd, 2014
- Clinical Trials for MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis with Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells - Video - November 26th, 2014
- Stem Cell Research & Therapy Explained - From MS to Spinal Injury - Video - November 5th, 2014
- Stem Cell Treatment | Multiple Sclerosis | www.stemrx.in - Video - October 21st, 2014
- Stem Cell Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis - Video - September 17th, 2014
- hES-MSC treat multiple sclerosis mouse - Video - June 6th, 2014
- New stem cells may help in battling multiple sclerosis - June 6th, 2014
- Multiple Sclerosis Treatment through Stem Cells - Video - May 21st, 2014
- Stem cell treatment Multiple Sclerosis - Video - May 17th, 2014
- Advancing Toward Multiple Sclerosis Therapies Using Stem Cells - Video - May 16th, 2014
- Stem Cell Treatment For MS Working Wonders - Video - April 24th, 2014