Multiple Sclerosis

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) slowly lose the protective coating on the nerves in their brain and spinal cord. As a result, messages carried along these nerves are distorted or interrupted, leading to movement and other health problems.

Symptoms often start with numbness, tingling or muscle weakness, and may later include blurred or double vision, loss of balance and coordination, movement, bladder and bowel problems, confusion and forgetfulness.

MS affects about 1 in 400 people, and it usually progresses slowly. Most people start with relapsing/remitting MS. This means they have symptoms, lasting at least 24-48 hours, from which they partially or completely recover. After several years of relapsing/remitting MS, some develop secondary progressive MS. This means they do not recover fully after each attack, and slowly become more disabled. A few people have progressive MS from the start (primary progressive MS).

The exact cause of MS isn’t known. But research suggests that MS is more common in some families than others. Immune cells that normally protect the body from infection start to attack nerves and make them inflamed. At first the body repairs them but, as MS progresses, some of the damage is permanent.

Treating Multiple Sclerosis

Treatment cannot cure multiple sclerosis (MS), but it aims to treat symptoms, reduce relapses, prevent progression and enable people to lead full, independent lives for as long as possible.

Physical therapies help to keep people mobile, and muscle relaxing drugs can reduce muscle spasms. Speech therapy can help with speech problems, and dietary support can help with digestive problems. Anticholinergic drugs, such as oxybutynin, can relieve incontinence problems.

A growing number of people with MS are using drugs to reduce relapses and prevent progression of the disease. These drugs appear to work at different stages of the immune reaction which leads to nerve damage. Unfortunately, they don’t work for everyone, especially in more advanced cases of MS.