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| What is Multiple Sclerosis... |
| Muliple Sclerosis is a chronic,often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild such as numbness in the limbs or severe-- paralysis or loss of vision. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 but the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can be lifelong. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted,but advances in research and treatment are giving hope to those affected by the disease. |
| Exacerbations with MS... |
| The most common clinical course in people with MS is called relapsing-remitting MS "RRMS". It is marked by the onset of an exacerbation,a sudden worsening of an MS symptom or symptoms,or the appearance of new symptoms,which lasts at least 24 hours and is separated from a previous exacerbation by at least one month. An exacerbation is also known as a relapse,an attack,or a flare. True exacerbations generally last days to weeks A true exacerbation of MS is caused by an area of inflammation in the central nervous system. This is followed by demyelination--the destruction of myelin, which is the fatty sheath that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers. Demyelination results in the formation of an abnormal area called a plaque and causes the nerve impulses to be slow,distorted,or halted,producing the symptoms of MS. One example of an exacerbation of MS would be the development of optic neuritis,an inflammation of the optic nerve that impairs vision. An exacerbation may be mild or may significantly interfere with the individual's daily life. Exacerbations usually last from several days to several weeks,althought they may extend into months. It is generally accepted that a short course of corticosteroids will cause an exacerbation to be shorter and/or less severe. Pseudoexacerbations temporarily aggravate MS problems Sometimes an increase in symptoms has nothing to do with the underlying MS, but is caused by factors such as fever,infection,or hot weather that can temporarily aggravate MS problems. This is referred to as a pseudoexacerbation. Some patients report a worsening of their symptoms during or after periods of intense stress. Researchers are beginning to explore the effects of stress on the immune system and its possible involvement in MS. Remission A remission does not mean that all the symptoms of MS disappear,but rather that a person with MS returns to the baseline that existed before the last exacerbation began. |
| Symptoms... |
| The symptoms of MS are highly variable,depending on the areas of the central nervous system that have been affected. Not only do the symptoms vary from one person to another,but from day to day for any given individual. Symptoms include fatigue,tingling,numbness,painful sensations,blurred or double vision, muscle weakness,impaired balance,spasticity,tremor,changes in bladder,bowel, and sexual function,cognitive changes such as forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating,speech and swallowing problems,and mood swings. Symptoms may come and go,appear in any combination,and be mild,moderate,or severe. Some people experience only a few of these symptoms in the course of thier MS,while others will experience many more. There are medications and therapies to help with most of these symptoms. |
| If you would like to learn more about MS,click on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society logo >>> |
| The information I have on this page was recieved from www.nmss.org |
| What is MS anyways!? |
| The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of Multiple Sclerosis. |
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| Duplicated on: 07/26/01 |
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| Links to more MS info. |
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| The information provided on my site is designed to support,not replace, the relationship that exsists between a patient/site visitor and their exsisting physician. Do not use any information on this page to diagnose or treat yourself or anyone else,I advise you to talk to your physician. |