Understanding Multiple Sclerosis

Just relax and take your time to read this article, I am sure it will help you.

Multiple sclerosis, commonly abbreviated and referred to as MS, is a disorder which has an effect on the central nervous system. Also called the CNS, the central nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. A fatty substance called myelin protects the nerves of the central nervous system and also helps the nerve fibers operate as they should. MS occurs when myelin is missing or damaged which causes scarring which is called sclerosis. The actual nerve fiber itself may also be affected as well. The loss of myelin and/or nerve fiber damage are the factors which cause the symptoms of MS.

There are a variety of different symptoms which are associated with MS. Some individuals with this disorder may have only a few symptoms, while some may have many symptoms. Symptoms can occur in varying degrees of severity. They include things like bladder and bowel dysfunction, excessive fatigue, coordination problems, vision impairment, spasms, unexplained numbness, changes in sexual function, speech difficulty and seizures. All of these symptoms may also be indicative of other medical issues, which is why a thorough evaluation by your doctor is so important.

Diagnosing MS can be challenging and may consist of techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or a spinal tap. An MRI will allow the doctor to see lesions located in the brain or spinal column areas. A spinal tap which involves extracting a small amount of spinal fluid helps doctors measure the amount of abnormally occurring antibodies which may be indicative of MS. There may be other diagnostic tests that may be performed during an MS evaluation. It may take months before a definitive diagnosis can be reached. Your doctor will explain the procedures that you will have to undergo and what each one is used for. He or she will also need to know as much information as possible about your symptoms including what they are, how severe they are, when they occur, and their duration.

There are four different types of multiple sclerosis which can help define the severity and progression of the disorder. They are relapsing-remitting, primary-progressive, secondary-progressive and progressive relapsing. The relapsing-remitting type of MS is the most common type upon diagnosis, occurring approximately 85 percent of the time according to the National MS Society. If you are diagnosed with MS, your doctor will explain which type you have and how you can reduce your symptoms. There is currently no cure for this disorder, in part because the exact cause is unknown. However, new research is being conducted all the time and organizations such as the National MS Society are devoted to finding a cure if one exists.

Copyright 2008-2008 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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