Multiple sclerosis, better known simply as MS, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system. As an autoimmune disorder, MS occurs when the body’s immune system starts attacking the protective myelin sheath covering fibres of the central nervous system, mistaking it for foreign invaders. Because it’s a chronic condition, there’s no cure for MS – only treatments that can ease your symptoms.
MS is a very confusing and unpredictable disorder because it affects everyone differently, and there’s a lot that medical experts don’t understand about the condition. Depending on which part of the protective myelin sheath your immune system targets, you can have very minimal symptoms or completely debilitating ones. In all cases, however, MS will eventually lead to infections or other conditions that prove terminal in the end.
Part of the reason that MS is so confusing is because of the wide range of signs and symptoms that people experience. Symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the condition and which part of the central nervous system is being attacked. In general, however, here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of MS.
There are many other symptoms associated with MS, but these are some of the most common. It’s important to seek an immediate diagnosis if you suspect you might have MS so that you can start treatment immediately.
MS is a chronic autoimmune condition that occurs when the body’s immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy parts of the body. In the case of MS, the immune system targets myelin – the protective sheath around nerve fibres in the spinal cord. Over time, the damage becomes extreme enough that scar tissue (sclerosis) forms around the nerves and doesn’t allow them to do their job. When this happens, various parts of your body will shut down and you won’t be able to perform certain actions.
While this is the overall cause of MS, medical experts aren’t sure what causes the immune system to malfunction in the first place. However, here are a few suspected causes and known risk factors.
MS can be tricky to diagnose because there aren’t any definitive tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. In most cases, your doctor will consider your symptoms, administer a variety of tests, and use a process of elimination to make their diagnoses. Here are some of the tests they use.
Additionally, in order to have MS, your condition needs to meet the following criteria.
If your symptoms match this criteria and the tests mentioned above point towards MS, your doctor will diagnose you with the condition.
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for MS, and it will cause lifelong symptoms and problems that will eventually prove terminal. However, there are various treatments and therapies that can increase your lifespan, limit symptoms, and help you live as normal a life as possible. Currently, a combination of medications, physical therapy, speech therapy, and assistive devices are the best way to treat and cope with multiple sclerosis.