Multiple Sclerosis: A Beginner's Guide

by Vishal Kaushik Digital Marketer

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It’s often referred to as an invisible disability because many of its symptoms can be mild, and because many of its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. For example, fatigue and nausea are both common side effects of flu and allergies, so it can be difficult to distinguish between MS and other illnesses that cause these same symptoms. Understanding what multiple sclerosis disease is and how it works will help you decide if you should see a doctor about your symptoms.

What is MS?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that affects your brain and spinal cord. It’s thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which your immune system attacks and damages your own body’s cells by mistake. MS is thought to be caused by something you inherit from one or both of your parents, and having it may also be influenced by a combination of environmental factors like diet, exercise habits, smoking and stress.

Having MS can affect your body in different ways, depending on where and how many areas of your brain or spinal cord are affected. Your symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe, but common signs and symptoms include muscle weakness, fatigue, blurred vision, tingling in hands or feet, bowel and bladder problems (also known as urinary incontinence), depression, anxiety and cognitive impairment. There is no cure for MS at present but there are treatments available that can help you manage your condition.

General Symptoms of MS:

Some of these symptoms may feel like they’re a part of everyday life, but if you experience them consistently for at least six months, and then see two different doctors who both agree that there’s no other explanation for your issues, it could be MS.

MS symptoms are more obvious, such as weakness or numbness in your arms and legs. If you notice these symptoms coming on suddenly, get to a doctor immediately. Some MS symptoms can be debilitating, causing issues with walking and even cognition (the ability to think). Luckily there’s a treatment for that too!

It’s important to note that some of these symptoms can also be due to other conditions. Multiple sclerosis is just one possible cause, so your doctor will need to conduct several tests before giving you a diagnosis.

Treatments Available:

There are several types of treatment available for people with MS. While there is no cure, many treatments can help alleviate symptoms and slow or halt disease progression. Common treatments include

Medications commonly used to treat MS include beta interferon and glatiramer acetate. Injections of these medications are typically given on a regular basis over a period of several years.

Other medications are used to treat symptoms of MS, such as spasticity, depression and bladder problems. These may include medications like baclofen, dantrolene sodium and tizanidine.

Spasticity is also treated with non-invasive brain stimulation (RNS), which delivers electric impulses to targeted areas of the brain, thereby reducing spasticity. Rehabilitation and mobility training may also help people with MS regain their ability to walk.

The disease’s progression can also be slowed with a procedure called a corticosteroid treatment, in which doctors administer short bursts of steroid medications directly into cerebrospinal fluid. Another form of drug therapy that slows MS progression is natalizumab, which blocks certain white blood cells from entering a person’s brain and spinal cord. This reduces inflammation associated with MS.

The last treatment option, which is used only in more severe cases of MS, is called a leukotomy. In a leukotomy, doctors remove parts of white matter from a person’s brain to reduce symptoms and slow disease progression. This procedure does not cure MS, however, and some people may develop permanent disabilities as a result. They may also be unable to care for themselves independently or drive again.

Some people with MS undergo surgery to repair damage to nerves in their spinal cord. The two most common surgical procedures for MS are an anterior cervical laminectomy and a lumbar discectomy. These surgeries relieve pressure on nerve roots, allowing signals to travel between your brain and other parts of your body more easily. They are typically used to treat symptoms of MS that are too severe for medication or physical therapy alone.

Surgery for MS can be risky, however. It is often not recommended for people with mild MS because nerve damage may not be visible on MRI scans, which makes surgery more difficult. Additionally, surgery doesn’t improve a person’s overall condition or slow disease progression. The risk of serious complications is also high and can include permanent paralysis, bladder and bowel problems, infection and death.

If you want to learn more about MS treatments, including surgery, talk to your doctor. He or she can recommend a treatment that is right for you based on your symptoms and preferences.