Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. It is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, leading to progressive neurological damage.

It can be difficult to diagnose MS because its symptoms vary from person to person and are often vague. Some of the common symptoms are fatigue, numbness, tingling, clumsiness, problems with balance and coordination, muscle weakness or spasms, and depression.

Multiple sclerosis has been known as an unpredictable disease with no cure or definitive treatment for a long time. Controlling the symptoms with medications such as steroids and immunosuppressants or taking part in a clinical trial of new treatments helps manage it.

What is Multiple Sclerosis and What Causes it?

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory, chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system. The word “multiple” refers to the many patches of inflammation on the brain and spinal cord, while “sclerosis” means hardening. The diagnosis is mostly between ages 20 and 50, with two to three times as many women as men being diagnosed.

Multiple sclerosis affects more than 2.3 million people globally and has no known cure. It was first identified in 1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot. Multiple sclerosis is characterized by remitting and relapsing episodes of neurologic dysfunction due to demyelination and gliosis in areas disseminated in space and time. The disease is caused by an abnormal immune response to the body’s myelin sheath. The abnormal immune response causes inflammation and damage to the myelin, which wraps around nerve fibers and helps them signal properly.

Types of Multiple Sclerosis

There are two types of MS: primary progressive MS (PPMS), which represents about 10% of all cases, and relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), which accounts for most cases.

Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) is a rare form of MS. Not much is known about it since fewer than 50 cases are diagnosed each year.

Secondary progressive MS/relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) accounts for about 50% of cases. It occurs when the patient starts with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and then progresses to become more disabled without periods of remission.

The relapse rate for RRMS is around 40% per year which means that, on average, someone with RRMS will experience two to three attacks each year. The relapse rate for secondary progressive MS is around 5% per year which means that, on average, someone with secondary progressive MS will experience one attack per year. 

What triggers an MS relapse? 

High levels of stress, fatigue, and sleep disturbances are common triggers for relapses in many patients. Other factors such as physical illness, injury or surgery, Pregnancy, or the menstrual cycle can also trigger an MS relapse in some people. The most common cause of relapse is the introduction of an environmental trigger or stressor. Examples of environmental triggers are:

• Physical illness.
• Injury or surgery (such as a heart attack).
• Pregnancy or the menstrual cycle.
• Stressful life events.

Symptoms: What are the Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?

The symptoms of MS can vary from person to person and depend on which area of your body is affected by this condition. The symptoms of MS are different for everyone. Still, they often include pain and numbness in the extremities, fatigue, cognitive impairment, balance problems, vision problems (such as blurred or double vision), muscle weakness (such as spasticity or paralysis), and bladder and bowel incontinence, and changes in consciousness. Cognitive impairment may be due to problems with the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other disorders.

Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis can be diagnosed by doing a neurological exam and imaging tests.

The neurological exam will assess the person’s muscle strength, coordination, reflexes, sensation, and mental status. It can also show any abnormalities in the spinal cord or brain. Imaging tests will help detect lesions in the brain and spinal cord that could be causing symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Tests might also be done to check for antibodies attacking myelin proteins in the body’s immune system.

Treatments for MS

There is currently no cure for MS, but there are treatments to help control symptoms. These treatments include medication to reduce the frequency of attacks or reduce the severity of symptoms during an attack, physical therapy to maintain mobility, occupational therapy to help with everyday tasks like dressing or cooking, and speech therapy to help with communication skills. Symptomatic treatments include medications to reduce pain and spasticity, while disease-modifying treatments include:

• Immunotherapy.
• Drugs that modify the immune response.
• A surgical procedure called deep brain stimulation.

Some people with MS can be treated with an immunotherapy called natalizumab or fingolimod. These drugs help prevent relapses by blocking the immune cells from entering your central nervous system. If you have MS or a relapse, there are many different treatments you should consider speaking with your doctor about, including medications that reduce inflammation or slow the progression of the disease and prevent relapses and other treatments designed to ease symptoms such as pain or spasticity.

Coping with MS in Everyday Life

No matter how many advances in health care we make, there is no cure for MS. The best way to cope with MS is to take care of your mental health, exercise, and eat healthy food. This will help you feel better and become more productive.