What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It is an unpredictable condition that can be relatively benign, disabling, or devastating. Some individuals with MS may be mildly affected while others may lose their ability to write, speak, or walk - when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted.
What causes multiple sclerosis?
There are many possible causes of MS, including the following: viruses, autoimmune disorders, environmental factors and genetic factors.
What are the symptoms of MS?
The symptoms of MS are erratic. They may be mild or severe, of long duration or short. They may appear in various combinations, depending on the area of the nervous system affected. The following are the most common symptoms of MS. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
The following are often initial symptoms of MS:
- blurred or double vision
- red-green color distortion
- pain and loss of vision due to optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve
- difficulty walking
- paresthesia - abnormal sensation, or pain, such as numbness, prickling, or "pins and needles."
The symptoms of MS may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
Throughout the course of the illness, an individual may experience any/all of the following symptoms, to a varying degree:
- muscle weakness in the extremities
- difficulty with coordination (impaired walking or standing may result; partial or complete paralysis is possible)
- spasticity - the involuntary increased tone of muscles leading to stiffness and spasms
- fatigue (this may be triggered by physical activity, but may subside with rest; constant, persistent fatigue is possible)
- loss of sensation
- speech impediments
- tremor
- dizziness
- hearing loss
Approximately 50 percent of all people with MS experience cognitive impairments related to their disease. The effects of these impairments may be mild, often detectable only after comprehensive testing, and may include difficulty with any/all of the following:
- concentration
- attention
- memory
- poor judgment
How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
With today's medicine, there is no definitive test available to diagnose multiple sclerosis. However, a probable diagnosis can be made by following a careful process which demonstrates findings that are consistent with MS, that also rule out other causes and diseases.
What are the two criteria used when diagnosing MS?
There must have been two attacks at least one month apart. An attack is a sudden appearance of or worsening of any MS symptom or symptoms that lasts at least 24 hours.
There must be more than one area of damage to the central nervous system myelin, the sheath that surrounds and protects nerve fibers, which must have occurred at more than one point in time and was not caused by any other disease.
What does an evaluation for MS cover?
Evaluation for MS often covers an extensive review of the following:
- mental functions
- emotional functions
- language functions
- movement and coordination
- vision
- balance
- functions of the five senses
