What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an illness diagnosed in over 350,000 persons in the United States today. There is still much to be learned about multiple sclerosis. MS typically has more than one (multiple) area of inflammation and scarring of the myelin in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is the tissue that covers and protects our nerve fibers. When this occurs, nerve communication is disrupted. An individual with MS experiences various degrees of neurological impairment depending on the location and extent of the scarring. Although there is no known cure for MS at this time, there is much that can be done to improving quality of life.

What causes MS?

Although a specific cause of MS has not yet been identified, there are several theories. MS is an "autoimmune" disease which means that the body's immune system begins to attack normal body tissue. In the case of MS, the body attacks the cells that make myelin.

Recent data suggest that common viruses may play a role in the cause of MS. If this is true then, MS may be caused by a persistent viral infection or, by an immune process initiated by a transient viral infection in the body, most likely the nervous system. Environmental studies centering on where MS exists and where it is absent, suggest that there is a triggering factor. It appears that some factor-most likely infectious-must be encountered before the age of 16 in order for the disease to be triggered later in life.

There is a higher incidence of MS found in the Northern temperate zones of North America and Europe. This seems to indicate that there could be some triggering factor in the environment, such as toxins, vitamin-deficiencies, etc. that could be causing MS to manifest in those whose immune systems are genetically predisposed to MS.

MS is not transmitted genetically but research indicates an increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, appears to be at least partly genetic. MS itself is not a hereditary disease, but the hereditary factor may make an individual susceptible to its development.

Who gets MS?

Currently, there are 350,000 to 500,000 people in the United States who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. MS is more common in women, appears more frequently in whites than in Hispanics or African Americans and is relatively rare among Asians and certain other groups.

Ninety percent of MS patients diagnosed are between the ages of 16 and 60; but MS can make its first appearance in early childhood or after age 60.

What are the most common symptoms of MS?

The most common characteristics of MS include fatigue, weakness, spasticity, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, vision loss, tremor and vertigo. Not all symptoms affect all MS patients and symptoms and signs may be persistent or may cease from time to time.

Because the signs and symptoms that define the clinical picture of MS are the result of nerve lesions causing disturbances in electrical conduction in one or more areas of the central nervous system, the nature of the symptoms that occur is determined by the location of the lesion.

Why do doctors feel that I am imagining my symptoms?

In the beginning phases of multiple sclerosis, diagnostic tests, such as MRI's, may be negative but the patient may experience subjective sensory symptoms. These symptoms can include numbness, tingling, or fatigue, and will not be seen on diagnostic tests. This leads doctors to believe there is no illness or that anxiety is present. You should also know that a clinical diagnosis of MS may take years. Often a physician observes a person over a period of time before reaching a diagnosis of MS. Neurologists are generally consulted and diagnostic tests such as MRI's, evoked response potential, and others may be used to help with a diagnosis.

If you are not sure you have MS, don't be afraid to ask questions and to find out more about feelings and symptoms. Do not let symptoms continue without further investigation.

Am I going to end up in a wheelchair?

The natural course of MS is highly variable, and it is impossible to predict the nature, severity or timing of progression in a given patient. In some cases, the course of MS over the first 5 years may provide a clue to the progression of the disease over the next 10 years. Recent studies indicate that 90% of patients with minimal disability 5 years after onset were still ambulatory at 15 years.

Management of MS has changed dramatically. More than two thirds of those with MS are still walking 20 years after developing the disease. Forty percent of persons diagnosed with MS experience little or no disruptions of normal activities and 75% never need a wheelchair. With appropriate management of MS, which includes medical, rehabilitative and psychological approaches, much can be done.

What options can help me?

Early treatment makes a difference. The necessity for early treatment in MS is becoming increasingly clearer. The time has passed for the "let's wait and see how it goes" attitude before treatment is begun. The message is that early treatment seems to delay disability presumably by decreasing the injury to the nervous system by the multiple sclerosis. The drugs used for treating MS are currently: Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, or Novantrone. Another option is alternative healing modalities. Many people find a combination of the two choices can achieve the best results.

Does diet affect Multiple Sclerosis?

Although various dietary regimens have failed to suppress flare-ups or improve remyelination of damaged nerve pathways, a well-balanced diet with proper nutrients is vital in treatment plans intended to reduce the complications of multiple sclerosis. Attention to diet can reduce problems with skin care, bladder disease, and bowel control in individuals with severe MS.

Does stress affect multiple sclerosis?

By understanding some of the psychological changes that accompany chronic disease, one may take an active role to achieve a more healthy mental state. Psychotherapy or counseling, and body cooling are ways one can relieve stress. Some prefer alternative treatment options, including relaxation techniques (exercise, yoga, massage therapy, meditation, biofeedback, and music) to learn ways to manage unavoidable stress. With MS, the stress that must be managed is the "distress" that may hamper our ability to cope with the events and people in our lives.

Can I get pregnant with MS?

For a woman with MS, the decision to have a baby can be more difficult. MS does not hinder a woman's chance of becoming pregnant and carrying a child to full term. MS is only another factor in one's decision to have a child, not the only one. Planning the pregnancy and getting all the information you need can make the decision process easier.

What about alternatives?

Attitudes are changing. The fact that over 125 medical schools, including Harvard, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Cornell Medical College, Duke University, and Stanford University, now offer alternatives to their patients shows that doctors are incorporating useful parts of alternative medicine.

Alternative medicine places emphasis on the "whole" person and views health as a complex product of mind, body and spirit as well as physical and social environment. This "holistic" approach means recognizing that the mind and the spirit have a powerful effect on how the body functions.