What is Multiple Sclerosis?
 

The central nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves. Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibers of the central nervous system is a fatty tissue called myelin, which helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses. When myelin or the nerve fiber is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted, and this produces the various symptoms of MS. In the condition of MS, myelin is lost in multiple areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis.

Most people experience their first symptoms of MS between the ages of 20 and 40.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may be unpredictable and may vary. One person may experience abnormal fatigue, while another might have severe vision problems. A person with MS could have loss of balance and muscle coordination making walking difficult; another person with MS could have slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder problems. Even severe symptoms may disappear completely and the person will regain lost functions.

Common symptoms may include bladder and bowel dysfunction, cognitive problems, dizziness, vertigo, emotional problems, fatigue, gait/walking problems, hearing loss, itching, headache, numbness, pain, seizures, sexual dysfunction, speech and swallowing disorders, tremors and vision problems.

What is the prognosis?

The cause of Multiple Sclerosis is relatively unknown. Researchers believe that the damage to myelin results from an abnormal response by the body’s immune system. Normally, the immune system defends the body against foreign invaders such as viruses or bacteria. In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks its own tissue. It is believed that MS is an autoimmune disease, and in this case, myelin is attacked. Scientists do not yet know what triggers the immune system to do this. Most agree that several factors are involved, which include environmental triggers, such as trauma, toxins, virus', heavy metals and in some cases genetics.

There is no definitive link to one virus or another which could be responsible for the demyelination (destruction of the myelin sheath surrounding and insulating the nerve fibers of the central nervous system) as seen in MS. At one time or another, canine distemper virus, measles virus, herpes virus (HHV-6), rubella (or German measles) virus, HTLV-1 virus, Epstein Barr virus, and others have been reported to be associated with MS. Yet there is no proof that any of them causes MS.

The role of trauma in causing MS or in triggering subsequent MS exacerbations (also known as attacks, relapses or flares) has been the subject of controversy for many years. There is no direct evidenced in research findings that directly relates trauma to the onset or flare-up of multiple sclerosis. Trauma is multi-faceted and its impact in the development and reoccurrence of MS is still being explored. It is accepted belief to say that stress and poor nutrition can often precede an occurrence of MS

Is there any treatment?

There is as yet no cure for MS. Many patients do well with no therapy at all, especially since many medications have serious side effects and some carry significant risks.