What is the Difference between muscular sclerosis and muscular dystrophy?

Answer 1

Multiple sclerosis means "many scars" on the myelin sheath of the central nervous system, and muscular dystrophy refers to muscle weakness and atrophy. Multiple sclerosis affects nerve while muscular dystrophy affects muscle. Some of the symptoms are similar, such as extreme fatigue and difficulty with movement, but MS is an autoimmune disorder that can flare and affect a different area of the CNS each time while MD is a genetic disorder that is progressive and often follows a specific pattern (areas) of muscle wasting.

With MS, disability occurs when the flares are more constant and cause permanent nerve damage to an area of the body, sometimes resulting in being blind, incontinent, wheelchair bound, or even bed ridden. With muscular dystrophy, the disability comes from the lack of stamina due to muscles wasting. Having less and less healthy muscle fibers makes the person exhausted doing simple tasks and eventually can lead to inability to lift, carry, walk, or stand. Falls can happen with both disorders, as healthy nerve and muscle are needed to balance one's body. Falling can result in a secondary disability and recovery is slow and incomplete sometimes. Both of these diseases and their sufferers need our support.