Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns and SymptomsTypes of MSCausesDiagnosisTreatmentLiving With MSOutlookNext in Multiple Sclerosis GuideEarly, Common, and Rare MS Symptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs and Symptoms
Types of MS
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Living With MS
Outlook
Next in Multiple Sclerosis Guide
Multiple sclerosis(MS) is a lifelong,autoimmune diseaseof the central nervous system (CNS) that affects nearly 1 million Americans and 2.8 million people worldwide.
In MS, a person’s immune system attacks the protectivemyelinsheath surrounding nerve fibers in the brain, spinal cord, andoptic nerves(located in the eyes). As a result of myelin damage, nerve signaling is interrupted, leading to various symptoms like vision problems, numbness, weakness, and pain.
This article will review basic facts about MS, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and outlook. It will also provide insight into how to live well with MS.
Mark Hunt / Getty Images
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?
No two people experience multiple sclerosis (MS) in the same way, and no single feature is unique to the disease. That said, some symptoms and signs are highly characteristic of the disease.
As an example,optic neuritisis a common first manifestation of MS.Optic neuritis in MS occurs when there is damage to the myelin covering thecranial nerve. This nerve relays messages to the brain about what the eye sees. Symptoms of optic neuritis include blurry vision, seeing colors less vividly, and pain with eye movements.
Othercommon MS symptomsinclude:
When Does MS Develop?MS can occur at any age but is most likely to strike between 20 and 40.Early symptoms may be subtle ormimic those of other medical conditions, which can lead to a delayed or missed diagnosis.
When Does MS Develop?
MS can occur at any age but is most likely to strike between 20 and 40.Early symptoms may be subtle ormimic those of other medical conditions, which can lead to a delayed or missed diagnosis.
Can Constipation Be a Symptom of Multiple Sclerosis?
MS isclassified into four types:
What Causes MS?
Thecause of MSis unknown, although a person must be genetically vulnerable and exposed to specific environmental exposures to get MS.
Besides a family history, environmental factors that may make a person more susceptible to developing MS include:
What Is the Central Nervous System?The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.The brain receives and processes nerve signals from throughout the body. It is responsible for memory, learning, thinking, feeling, and controlling movement and basic body processes such as breathing. The spinal cord contains nerves that communicate signals to and from the brain to the body.
What Is the Central Nervous System?
The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.The brain receives and processes nerve signals from throughout the body. It is responsible for memory, learning, thinking, feeling, and controlling movement and basic body processes such as breathing. The spinal cord contains nerves that communicate signals to and from the brain to the body.
How Is Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosed?
You may go to a primary healthcare provider when you have symptoms of MS. They may refer you to aneurologist, a physician who treats conditions affecting the nervous system. They diagnose MS using a formal set of criteria called theMcDonald criteria.
To meet the McDonald criteria, a person must have evidence of damage in at least two parts of their CNS, which must have occurred at different times.
A medical history,neurological exam, andmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brainand sometimes the spinal cord help determine if a person fulfills the McDonald criteria.
Other diagnostic tools used to confirm the diagnosis and rule out alternative diagnoses include:
How MS Is Diagnosed
Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis
There is no cure for MS, but many therapies can help you manage the disease and optimize your quality of life and daily functioning.
Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs)
What DMT Should I Take?Choosing a DMT requires a thoughtful discussion with your neurologist. The decision ultimately depends on several factors, including MS type and disease severity.
What DMT Should I Take?
Choosing a DMT requires a thoughtful discussion with your neurologist. The decision ultimately depends on several factors, including MS type and disease severity.
Infusion Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Medications for Relieving Symptoms
DMTs do not treat individual relapses or relieve symptoms.
A moderate to severe MS relapse is typically treated with acorticosteroid, eitherSolumedrol(methylprednisolone)orprednisone.
Other medications, along with lifestyle and rehabilitation interventions, are used to ease the everyday symptoms of MS.
A few examples of medications for MS symptoms include:
A Guide to Multiple Sclerosis Medications
Complementary Therapies
Variouscomplementary therapies may also ease MS symptoms.
Exercise, under the guidance of your healthcare provider orphysical therapist, can have a particularly positive impact on MS. Research suggests that exercise helps decrease MS-related fatigue and improve bladder function, balance, muscle strength, and cognition in MS.
Mind-body therapies can also reduce physical symptoms and improve stress management and well-being. Two popular therapies in MS care include:
Lifestyle Changes
Healthy lifestyle behaviors are also paramount to optimizing how a person feels, wit their MS and overall. These behaviors include:
How Multiple Sclerosis Is Treated
Living with a chronic, often debilitating, and highly unpredictable disease like MS can be challenging on many levels—physically, emotionally, financially, mentally, and logistically.
Nevertheless, you can achieve a fulfilling life with MS, and most people do. Still, it takes inner resiliency, social support, and the proper lifestyle and healthcare interventions.
Tips for Improving Life With Multiple Sclerosis
How MS Affects Mental Health
If you or a loved one has MS, it’s normal to experience a range of negative emotions, such as sadness, irritability, frustration, fear, and anger.
Grief, too, is a normal reaction in MS as you cope with losing physical or cognitive skills or even a job or a life once imagined.
While expected, when these emotions become overwhelming or affect your ability to function, it’s time to talk with your primary care provider or neurologist. They may signify something more serious, likedepressionor other mental health conditions.
How Common Is Depression in MS?Depression affects up to 50% of people living with MS and becomes more common as the disease progresses.
How Common Is Depression in MS?
Depression affects up to 50% of people living with MS and becomes more common as the disease progresses.
As you navigate MS and mental health, consider these steps or strategies:
Caring for Someone With MS
Caring for someone with a disabling and unpredictable disease like MS can be an energy-consuming and challenging experience.
In addition to managing physical demands, you may have to schedule healthcare provider appointments, pick up medication from the pharmacy, and manage various household tasks like cleaning, doing laundry, and paying bills.
As a caregiver, try to be mindful of your physical and mental needs to prevent burnout. This might mean:
Also, remember to take short and long breaks, like a coffee outing with a friend or an overnight stay in a hotel, so you can relax and recharge. During this time, ask a friend or family member to help you, or seekrespite carefrom a home health agency that provides trained caregivers.
Living With Multiple Sclerosis
Outlook for Multiple Sclerosis
While MS is incurable and a chronic condition that may affect all aspects of a person’s life, including relationships, career, and family decisions, the good news is that most people can live well with the right support and care.
In fact, MS is generally not considered fatal. If a person dies from MS, it’s usually related to a complication of the disease, like aurinary tract infection(UTI),pneumonia(lung infection), or apressure sore.These complications tend to occur when a person’s MS is advanced.
What Is Advanced MS?
Another positive outlook feature is that thelife expectancyof people diagnosed with MS has increased over the past two decades.
The increased and now near-normal life span of those living with MS is likely due to the remarkable discovery of several disease-modifying therapies. Lifestyle changes and broader knowledge about MS leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment may also play a role.
How Multiple Sclerosis Affects Life Expectancy
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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