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What is Multiple Sclerosis? |
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Symptoms
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system which can be potentially incapacitating for anyone who bears it. It is generally considered as a disease of an autoimmune nature, wherein the body’s immune system attacks its own components as if they were hostile. The symptoms for multiple sclerosis differ, depending on which patches of the countless nerve fibers in the body are afflicted. The patient may feel numb or weak in any or several limbs; it may either be a one-sided sensation, or it may be felt on the lower half of the body. There is partial or total blindness on either or both eyes, or a doubled or blurry vision; certain parts of the body may tingle, and sensations similar to an electric shock may be felt with sudden head movements. The patient may also experience tremors, problems with body coordination, and dizziness.
Causes
With multiple sclerosis, the immune system targets the cells which create the myelin sheath, a fatty substance that envelops the nerve fibers for protection. Inflammation follows, and the sheath is detached from the fibers. When electrical signals reach an injured area, some of these are obstructed or delayed from getting through to or from the person’s brain, eventually leading to nerve degeneration and permanent functional disabilities. Multiple sclerosis occurs in any of four basic patterns. Relapse-remitting MS is associated with sudden flare-ups, followed by a gradual remission. Primary-progressive MS involves a gradual decline with degeneration, without any period of diminution. People with secondary-progressive MS suffer a continuing degeneration which may be interspersed with sudden and brief relapse periods. Progressive-relapsing MS involves the worsening of current signs or the surfacing new of symptoms, and a frequency of relapses.
Diagnosis
There is no single particular test which makes a diagnosis for multiple sclerosis; a competent diagnosis relies on singling out the condition from others with similar symptoms, initially done through an assessment of the patient’s medical history. A neurological exam may follow in order to assess the status of the nervous system. The patient’s reflex, muscle endurance and tone, and his level of receptivity to pain and touch are measured. An MRI scan may also reveal lesions which are indicative of multiple sclerosis, conditions which are a result of myelin loss. A spinal tap may also be conducted to spot abnormalities in the spinal fluid, such as higher-than-usual levels of lymphocytes or certain proteins.
Treatment Info
If the relapses are slight and if they seldom occur, the physician may opt to wait for a while in order to view the condition’s progression. If the relapse periods prove to be significant and treatment becomes necessary, the doctor may prescribe disease-altering drugs, including beta interferons, glatiramer, natalizumab, mitoxantrone, or cancer medications like cyclophosphamide. Progressive MS may be treated with corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, or medications for reducing muscle fatigue. Since multiple sclerosis can debilitate the patient in its progressive stages, medications are usually opted for as a supplement to physical therapy and patient counseling. People with severe MS relapses undergo a plasma exchange, wherein blood cells are extracted and then dissolved in a replacement solution before being reintroduced in the body.
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