Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is Not a Death Sentence

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which gradual destruction of myelin occurs in patches throughout the brain, spinal cord, or both. It interferes with the nerve pathways and causing muscular weakness, loss of coordination and speech and visual disturbances.

It occurs mostly in young adults and is thought to be a defect in the immune system that may be of genetic or viral origin.

Multiple Sclerosis is know as MS for short. It is a disease that affects the central nervous system. The immune system thinks there is an injury where there is none and blood is rushed to that area causing inflammation. Inflammation around nerve cells cause damage to the myelin.

Myelin is a soft, white coating of nerve fibers in the central nervous system, composed of fats and protein. Myelin serves as insulation and as an aid to efficient nerve fiber conduction. When myelin is damaged in MS, nerve fiber conduction is faulty or absent. Impaired bodily functions or altered sensations associated with those demyelinated nerve fibers are identified as symptoms of MS in various parts of the body.

The body replaces the damaged myelin with scar tissue. Myelin protects the nerves and also helps nerves send signals. When the nerve signals are interrupted; MS symptoms appear such as blurred vision, balance problems, cognitive difficulties, and dizziness.

There are four categories or types of MS.

1. 85% of people that are diagnosed with MS are categorized as having Relapse-remitting MS.

2. 10% of MS sufferers have Primary-progressive MS. Symptoms may occur slowly, but the condition of the patient worsens at a steady rate.

3. Secondary-progressive MS occurs in patients with the first type of MS covered, Relapsing-remitting MS. The patient may have ongoing symptoms that never let up along with occasional relapses.

4. 5% of patients will experience, called Progressive-relapsing MS. This type of patient may have a steady worsening condition with severe relapses that they may or may not recover from.

There are many new drugs available that help manage MS very well. Each case of MS is so unique that it is very important to manage your case as your doctor sees fit.
The expected future course of the disease for a person with multiple sclerosis depends on the type of the disease. Other factors such as race, sex, initial symptoms and age, and initial symptoms play a role in how it is treated and what to expect.

The good news is the life expectancy of people with MS is now nearly the same as that of unaffected people. MS is not a death sentence and people with it, when treate properly, can lead a meaningful life.