Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions |
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Questions about how MS may affect daily living...
sources: National MS Society and allHealth.com
Click the question to go directly to the answer.
What is multiple sclerosis?
Is MS contagious?
Can MS be cured?
How many people have multiple sclerosis?
How long does the disease last?
What are the typical symptoms of MS?
What are the complications of MS?
What are exacerbations?
Who gets MS?
Is MS different in men and women?
What kinds of MS are there?
How will my MS develop?
Will I be confined to a wheelchair?
Can I have children?
Will I lose my mind and be unable to think?
Q. What is multiple sclerosis?
A. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person's healthy tissue. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although rare individuals as young as 2 and as old as 75 have developed it. MS is not considered a fatal disease as the vast majority of people with it live a normal life-span, but they may face a struggle to live productively, often with increasing limitations.
A. No. MS is not contagious and is not directely inherited. Studies do indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals more susceptible to the disease.
A. Not yet. There are now FDA-approved medications that have been shown to modify, or slow down, the underlying course of MS. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year, and progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging.
Q. How many people have multiple sclerosis?
A. Approximately 400,000 Americans acknowledge having MS, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Worldwide, MS may affect 2.5 million individuals.
Q. How long does the disease last?
A. The duration of the disease varies:
• Most people who get MS live with it for decades; the average duration is more than 30 years. While people with MS are more prone to infection and injury, the disease itself is rarely life-threatening and does not directly reduce the person's natural life span.
• Some people have a single attack or, more rarely, several attacks, from which they recover entirely.
• Very rarely, people die within several months of the onset of MS. This is called acute MS.
Q. What are the typical symptoms of MS?
A. Symptoms of MS are unpredictable, vary from person to person , and from time to time in the same person. Some symptoms include optic neuritis, sensation (pins and needles), weakness and paralysis, balance and coordination problems, spasticity, bowel and bladder problems, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive and emotional disturbance.
Q. What are the complications of MS?
A. Complications that often result from MS include:
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs). People with MS often have bladder problems such as the inability to control or release urine. These problems increase the risk of UTIs.
• Constipation. Weakness and spasms in the bowel and a low level of physical activity are common in people with MS and can lead to constipation.
• Pressure sores. Pressure sores can develop when a person has to lie in bed for long periods of time, especially if the person is unable to change positions.
• Confinement to a wheelchair some or all of the time.
MS should not interfere with most routine health-care procedures, such as dental anesthesia, general anesthesia (except if you have respiratory problems), and flu shots.
A. An exacerbation is a rapid onset attack of increasing MS symptoms that is thought to be indicating a new immune attack on myelin. The symptoms last at least a day in a particular area that has not had any new symptoms within the past month. The temporary increase of symptoms that many people experience with heat or overexertion is not an exacerbation. The symptoms decrease and return to previous levels when the problem is corrected with rest or cooling down.
A. Anyone may develop MS but there are some patterns. Twice as many women as men have MS. Studies suggest that genetic factors make certain individuals more susceptible than others, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. It occurs more commonly among people with northern Eurpoean ancestry, but people of African, Asian, and Hispanic backgrounds are not immune.
Q. Is MS different in men and women?
A. MS is twice as likely to occur in a woman than in a man. There is a well documented change in symptoms with pregnancy. Many women report variations in their MS symptoms with their menstral cycle.
Q. What kinds of MS are there?
A. The course that any one person's disease will take is unpredictable. There are three general patterns.
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is characterized by partial or total recovery after attacks. It is the most common form of MS. Eighty-five percent of people with MS begin with a relapsing-remitting course.
Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) is a relapsing-remitting course which becomes steadily progressive. Attacks and partial recoveries may continue to occur. Of the 85 percent who start with relapsing-remitting disease, more than 60 percent will develop SPMS within 10 years.
Primary-progressive MS (PPMS) is progressive from the onset; symptoms generally do not remit -- i.e., decrease in intensity. Fifteen percent of people with MS are diagnosed with PPMS. The diagnosis usually needs to be made after a person has been living for a period of time with progressive disability but not acute attacks.
A. About 25% will have wide fluctuations in their symptoms and a modest degree of disability. About 25% will have a mild disability that gradually disappears. About 25% of people will become incapacitated. About 5% have such subtle symptoms that they are hardly bothered by the disease.
Q. Will I be confined to a wheelchair?
A. About 25% of people with MS need a wheelchair within 25 years of their diagnosis.
A. MS usually does not affect your ability to have children, although it can cause some problems with sexual function. New mothers are at increased risk for relapses during the 3 to 6 months after delivery, which can pose problems in caring for the newborn. Pregnancy does not affect the long-term course of the disease.
Q. Will I lose my mind and be unable to think?
A. Changes in mental ability may appear after many years, but the person may sense subtle changes early on. Depression may cause mental symptoms and can usually be treated with drugs and counseling. It is impossible to predict if mental changes will occur in a particular person.
