SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS,
What You Need
to Know
& TREATMENT
Other Symptoms
Numbness
Itching
Walking Difficulties
Vision Problems
Bladder Problems
Bowl Problems
Cognitive Changes
Other Symptoms
Numbness
Itching
Walking Difficulties
Vision Problems
Bladder Problems
Bowl Problems
Cognitive Changes
Symptoms of MS
The symptoms of MS vary from person to person, as each
case affects a person in a unique way.
Vertigo
Vertigo refers to the feeling of imbalance. People with vertigo will have random spells of intense spinning and dizziness that create the illusion of falling, thus causing imbalance. This is known to happen in MS through lesions growing on the brain stem or cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance.
Spasticity
Spasticity causes muscles to randomly contract, resulting in stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms. When nerve signals between a muscle and the brain are disrupted, like in multiple sclerosis, the muscle remains in its shortened state which causes it to stay in its rigid, contracted form.
Fatigue
80% of patients with MS experience fatigue, making it one of the most common MS symptoms. Fatigue refers to a constant tiredness and strong need to sleep that interferes with day to day life.
Muscle Weakness
Many MS patients report to have muscle weakness which stems from not using their muscles as often as they did prior to being affected by the disease. This is a more simple side effect that can be easily treated through physical therapy.
Tingling
Damage to nerves causes random tingling sensations on the skin, most commonly on the hands, arms, legs, or feet.
Other Symptoms
Numbness
Itching
Walking Difficulties
Vision Problems
Bladder Problems
Bowel Problems
Cognitive Changes
Emotional Changes
Depression
Speech Problems
Swallowing Problems
Tremor
Seizures
Breathing Problems
Hearing Loss
Double Vision
Diminished taste
Facial weakness
Dysphagia
Facial pain
Anger
Diagnosis for MS
It's not as easy as you may think.
There is no specific diagnosis for MS yet, as more is being discovered about the disease each day. Doctors mainly diagnose by ruling out other possible diseases that a patient's symptoms could fall in line with. They do this through tests such as an MRI, spinal fluid analysis, blood tests, neurologic exams, and the examination of medical history.
The process begins with a neurological exam that studies how well your nerves work, which is important because MS causes nerves to cripple, meaning that weakened performance leads to more possibility of a patient having MS. Through neurological exams, a doctor must find evidence of nerve damage in two separate locations in the nervous system that occur at different times.
MRIs are used to detect for more damage that could prove that a patient has multiple nerve attacks, making the diagnosis more valid. MRIs are also able to locate lesions in the brain that cause damage to the central nervous system.
To rule out other possibilities, patients take blood tests that test for biomarkers of other conditions that could be the root of the problem, like vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
The spinal fluid analysis, or Spinal Tap, takes away spinal fluid to study for spinal cord abnormalities that are frequently found in MS patients.
If the test results all share the biomarkers of MS, then past medical history is consulted to attempt to connect previous medical issues to MS.
Finally, the patient must take a closing, complete neurological exam that studies vision, hearing, facial sensation, strength, swallowing, reflexes, coordination, walking, and balance.
If all test results point towards MS, it is then and only then that a patient will be diagnosed with the disease. Since multiple sclerosis is so grievous and does not yet have a cure, doctors are thorough in making sure that they do not misdiagnose.
Treatment for MS
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, so treatment heavily revolves around
healing from attacks and managing any symptoms.
As of now, there is no cure for MS. Because of this, treatment focuses on recovering from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease, and managing its symptoms through different types of medications and therapy.
Corticosteroids are often prescribed after severe MS attacks to ease nerve damage through soothing inflammation. Plasmapheresis, the liquid portion of your blood, can separated from your blood cells and mixed with the protein albumin, which is known to help ease pain.
Ocrelizumab, or Ocrevus, is a disease modifying therapy that has been shown to slightly halt progress in the disease. It's infused into a vein by a medical professional, and is the only DMT that has been approved by the FDA.
There is a wider variety of treatment options available for the more common side effects of MS.
Physical Therapy given to MS patients to help them become accustomed to living with more muscle pain and weakness. It also prevents the deterioration of muscles through keeping them active and healthy.
Muscle Relaxants help to ease any spasticity, and are most commonly used for multiple sclerosis' patient's legs. Some of the most helpful and popular relaxers are Baclofen and Zanaflex.