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Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated MS, also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is an inflammatory disease that affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. There is no known cure for MS. In this category you'll find information about MS symptoms, treatment and more.
431 Questions
What are the main MS symptoms?
The symptoms of MS are slurred speach, loss of balance, bladder and bowel problems, vision disturbance, short-term memory loss, extreme fatigue, stiffness of muscles and problems with coordination. Not all occur.
Does multiple sclerosis cause cardiomyopathy?
No. Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, it does not affect the peripheral nervous system, nor does it affect the autonomic nervous system. Thus, heart function is unaffected by MS.
Heart function is definitely affected by MS. There are BP changes [orthotstatic hypotension] Heart Rate changes and ECG variations are noted in PWMS [persons with MS] the Autonomic Nervous system is very much influenced: bladder/blower problems, sexual dysfunction, GI disturbances,olfactory loss, Dysfunction of the ANS causes significant decline in performance in MS persons.
Multiple sclerosis is a serious chronic and progressive illness affecting your body's nerves that can render a person disabled. It affects the brain and spinal cord resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, numbness or thinking ability.
AnswerIt effects the central nervous system -- the brain and spinal cord. It attacks the myelin covering of the central nervous system, causing inflammation and often destroying the myelin in patches. MS has defined attacks followed by complete or partial recovery. It is difficult to diagnosis the future progression of this disease or specific symptoms to the patient.MS can occur at any age and is usually diagnosed through the ages of 15 - 40. It is 3 times more likely to occur in women than men and is more common in people of Northern European background.
Symptoms of MS vision disturbances, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, problems with coordination, stiffness of muscles, speech problems, bladder and bowel problems, short-term memory and partial or complete paralysis. Not all people with MS will experience all these symptoms and the symptoms will improve during periods of remission.
Scientists do not know what causes MS, but many doctors believe it's an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system malfunctions and starts attacking the myelin which protects the central nervous system. There is also evidence that MS may be triggered by a common virus and some individuals are more susceptible to developing MS re genetic factors. There is absolutely no evidence that MS is a directly inherited disease.
MS is diagnosed in most people with the relapsing-remitting form of MS. Over time some people in this category develop secondary-progressive MS while others may have mild attacks but do not worsen and are considered to have benign MS.
There are successful medications for both relapsing-remitting MS and secondary-progressive MS. The treatments have been shown in clinical studies to actually modify the course of the disease and it can decrease the frequency and severity of MS attacks, reduce the number of MS lesions in the brain and slow down the progression of disability. It's important that therapies which are available are taken for the MS symptoms of spasticity, bladder problems, pain and fatigue.
MS is not contagious nor directly inherited although research studies are suggesting that genetic factors make certain people more susceptible to developing MS.
It is said that there is a cure such as: Repairing damaged myelin and nerve fibers to find a way to stop the damage and stimulate myelin regrowth. The other important research is the repair inured nerve fibers. Virus research is making great progress. Significant progress is being made in understanding how genes may contribute to the development of MS and that research is the largest in the world and in Canada. Since the 1980s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to see into the living brain and to detect MS lesions. MRI allows for faster diagnosis of MS and faster evaluation of potentially useful MS therapies.
What are the contraindications to exercise with someone who has multiple sclerosis?
One contraindication is warm water immersion (e.g. hot tub or extended hydrotherapy in a warm pool) or extensive hot packs - anything that may raise the patient's core temperature - as this will lead to extreme fatigue.
Who is the patron saint of multiple sclerosis?
Patron saints against neurological or nerve diseases are St. Bartholomew the Apostle and St. Dymphna. There is no particular patron for those who suffer from Parkinsons. However, Pope John Paul II suffered from it and would be a perfect person to pray to even though he is not yet canonized and not a patron saint.
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What treatment is available for someone diagnosed with multiple sclerosis?
There are definitely lots of treatments available today for MS. The latest development has been the Liberation Treatment which has been brought forth by the Italian Dr. Paolo Zamboni. Though this treatment is still being investigated for its efficacy through clinical studies, it has shown positive results in most cases. Many hospitals carry out this treatment. It is however cheaper to get treatment in countries like India, where they have expertise like that of Apollo hospitals in Chennai.
What is T2 hyperintense lesion at left centrum semiovale?
T2 is a type of MRI imaging technique in which TE and TR (Echo time and Repetition time) are longer and the image's contrast and brightness is determined specifically by T2 signals. A "hyperintense lesion" would appear as a bright white spot on a T2-weighted MRI, and its location is in the left centrum semiovale. The centrum semiovale is a large region of "white matter". It is composed of the fibers carrying information to and from the surface of the brain (cortex) to the deeper structures of the brain and to the spinal cord.
What does T2 and Flair hyperintensities mean in a MRI scan?
T2 FLAIR Hyperintensity is when hyperintensity is seen via FLAIR (Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery) during the T2, or spin-spin, relaxation cycle. This process helps nullify natural fluid signals in the body to find plaques and lesions in the brain. Hyperintensity describes areas of high intensity in the brain during an MRI.
Is there a correlation between Multiple Sclerosis and Anxiety Disorder?
multiple sclerosis may be the body's delayed immune reaction to viruses such as measles, Herpes simplex, rubella, and parainfluenza.
When will there be a cure for multiple sclerosis?
Unfortunately, Multiple Sclerosis does not really have a cure. However, there have been constant advancements in treatments and a lot is being invested in research. A recent development has been the Liberation Treatment, which is still being investigated for its efficacy through clinical studies. It has shown positive results; much to the satisfaction of many patients. They feel their energy returning and are able to do a lot more things than they used to.
There are many hospitals around the world that offer this treatment. I've heard India is a good destination for this treatment. There are quite a few including Apollo Hospitals in the city of Chennai that offer Liberation Treatment.
How does heat affect multiple sclerosis?
MS patients who are exposed to heat see a temporary worsening of their symptoms; removal from the heat causes the symptoms to subside.
Before MRIs were being used to more conclusively diagnose MS, doctors would sometimes place patients in a hot tub: if their symptoms got worse, and then subsided following removal from the tub, doctors would suspect MS as the cause.
It is important to note that the temporary worsening of symptoms caused by heat does not affect disease progression and does not cause earlier onset of disease progression.
What age do you start to see multiple sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis typically presents its first symptoms between the ages of 20 and 50. MS has been known to present in young children (Pediatric MS) and in significantly older adults.
One has about a 13% chance of developing MS symptoms prior to age 20, but once an adult crosses age 50, the likelihood of developing MS drops to about 7%. Studies have shown that 2 to 5% of people diagnosed with MS had symptoms of the disease while they were still children (younger than 18).
Why does destruction of the myelin sheath affect motor control?
The myelin sheeth helps keep signals (like electrical impulses) within the axon so that they can get to the cell body (of the neuron). This is necessary for muscles to contract (to move). If myelin is lost the signal or "electrical impulse" is less and less which has an affect on muscle function because there isn't enough signal to stimulate or "tell" the muslce to move.
What is the expected lifespan of a patient with Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is not a "deadly" or "lethal" disease. It does not kill a person like, say, stage 4 inoperable breast or colon cancer. But it can become very aggressive and debilitating at any time. I have MS and saw your question and I hope this effectively answers it. Although MS pt's don't usually die from the disease itself there is a much higher rate of suicide due to physical and mental toll this disease takes on the patient, much higher than the general public.
Which animals have multiple hearts?
I think worms,remember insects are animals! The number of aortic arches (hearts) varies for specie to specie. The common earth worm has 5 'hearts'!
It is proposed that multiple sclerosis may be transmitted chiefly by sexual contact. Arguments favoring this include: migration studies that suggest a transmissible agent in adolescence; clusters of multiple sclerosis which have occurred in low prevalence areas following entry of young males; the similarity of multiple sclerosis to tropical spastic paraplegia, a known sexually transmitted infection with resemblance to primary progressive multiple sclerosis; an increased rate in drug misusers; a similar age of onset and sex pattern to that found in sexually transmitted disease; increased incidence of multiple sclerosis in those using oral contraceptives; low multiple sclerosis rates in societies with a strict moral code; longitudinal shifts in sex prevalence that show an increase in women after the sexual revolution of the 1960s; and important exceptions to the worldwide distribution corresponding to countries with permissive attitudes to sex. Family, conjugal pair, twin, and adoption studies are compatible with an infectious cause of multiple sclerosis if this is sexually transmitted. It is not proposed that sexual transmission is the only cause but that inherited factors create a susceptibility to a sexually transmitted neurotropic agent. It is hoped this hypothesis might encourage a new direction of neurological research.
Is massage good with multiple sclerosis?
Yes. Massage therapy is helpful in relieving muscle tension associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and it also helps to promote nerve function as well. Massage therapy can also improve spasticity and muscle stiffness.
What organs does multiple sclerosis affect?
The central nervous system. 'Central nervous system' answers what MS affects, but not who. It affects between 2 & 3 times as many women as men, & usually (but not always) starts in early adult life: 20's, 30's or 40's. The incidence increases the further away from the equator you live There is a slightly increased chance of getting MS if a close relative has it, but this only raises the odds to around 1 in 100 rather than 1 in 700 for the rest of the population.
What are the tests to see if you have multiple sclerosis?
There is no blood work test available to definitively diagnose Multiple Sclerosis. Blood work is collected during the diagnosis process to rule out 'mimics' to Multiple Sclerosis, that can be detected through blood work. This is an important part of the diagnosis process, as an MS diagnosis is a process of exclusion.
Upon receiving a diagnosis for Multiple Sclerosis, if one chooses a therapy treatment, regular blood work may be required as part of the treatment to monitor changes to the body (such as the liver).
How does multiple sclerosis affect the body with or without medication?
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system by causing a breakdown of the myelin sheath surrounding certain nerve fibers. The myelin sheath is a fatty layer surrounding the nerves that acts much like the insulation around an electrical wire. When it is destroyed, the impulses carried by these nerves generally become ineffective to the point where the parts of the body served by these nerves become erratic or non-functional. The nerve damage is in the spinal column and the brain.
No. Urea is generally excreted by MOST adult amphibians.
What is difference between ME and MS?
ME is myalgic encephalomyelitis, and is sometimes known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; it appears to be the aftermath of a viral infection.
MS is multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disorder, which causes nerve damage and can affect almost any part of the body. It can cause fatigue.
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