After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), some people want to know the facts. They want to know how many people have this disease, how is it treated, how did they find this disease, is it fatal, what are the symptoms, and are there treatment options? These questions can be put into non-medical terms and made easy to understand for the average person.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

MS is a disease that affects the nervous system. It is a chronic disease and attacks the brain, spinal chord and optic nerves. The disease can also weaken the immune system, lungs, and heart. Those who have the disease can have a hard life because of its disabling symptoms. However, treatment plans and medications for the symptoms have been developed over the last six years. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but the National Multiple Sclerosis Society works day and night trying to find a cure for the crippling disease.

How Many People Have Multiple Sclerosis?

MS is not an uncommon disease. Although scientists don’t know how you get it or how to cure it, they do know how many people have it. Today over 1.2 million people have multiple sclerosis, with more than half of them being woman in their 30’s.   To date, 40,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis and are receiving treatment, prescription medications, or test medications for their symptoms. An estimated 75,000 Canadians have MS, with over half being athletes. Both men and woman suffer equally from MS inCanada.Europehas 25,000 people with MS today. Most patients are woman over 30.

There are two known medications for MS Symptoms inEurope. Third world countries also have high rates of people with MS; however they don’t have the money or the technology to create treatments or medications for those who have the disease.

Immunity Myths

Over the years myths have cropped up about multiple sclerosis and the color of one’s skin. MS mostly affects the black and white communities. For the longest time it was believed that those who are Asian, Hispanic, and Pilipino were immune to the disease. It was found that no one is immune to multiple sclerosis; however there is a higher amount of whites and blacks that have MS.

How is MS Diagnosed?

There are no tests that can actually pin-point multiple sclerosis. The symptoms you have, along with things that show up in blood work, MRI’s and CAT scans can lead doctors to the information they need to decide if you have multiple sclerosis. The most common test taken to see if some one has MS is an MRI of the brain. Some people with MS can have lesions in their brain resulting in numbness of their sides, and is good evidence of multiple sclerosis.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Symptoms of MS can vary from person to person; however symptoms such as loss of balance, dizzy spells, numbness, blurry or loss of vision, heat intolerance, and loss of bladder and muscle control are the most common MS symptoms. Symptoms such as fatigue, pain in your spine, speech problems, throat pain, and tingling vary person to person. However, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is wise to talk to your doctor about running tests for multiple sclerosis.

How is MS Treated

Although there is no cure for multiple sclerosis there are some medications and treatments that can help manage MS symptoms. Sometimes MS can go into remission on its own which mean even though the disease is still there it is not giving you any symptoms. However, most times doctors try to treat you with the treatments we have available. The most effective treatment doctors use to relieve MS symptoms is a type of stretching therapy. It stretches your back out, and can relieve pain, and help realign your spine to help prevent dizzy spells. Doctors can also inject patients with medications for each symptom separately.

New Medications

There is currently a new medication out for MS called Gilneya. It was originally made for patients with dysfunctional kidneys. However, if given in a much smaller dose it can help control multiple sclerosis symptoms. However it has along list of side affects, and if taken at too high a dose can be toxic. A safer medication is currently waiting to be able to test on humans. Its caused BG-12 (has no generic name) and is said to be just as effective as Gilneya, but safer. The scientists working on it hope to have it available by prescription by August of 2012.

Is MS Fatal?

Multiple sclerosis itself is not fatal. Many of the symptoms can become fatal as you age. There are also a high percentage of those with MS contracting Pneumonia and their lungs become paralyzed. However, the disease itself is no fatal, and you can live a full life even if you have MS.

These facts about MS can be worrying, but you can have the answer to some of the most frequently asked questions. You can now know that it is possible for you to live a full life with multiple sclerosis. However, you should never give up hope that these facts will change, and that a cure will be found.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that affects your central nervous system.  A progressive disease, MS usually presents itself with varying intensity. Symptoms are usually hard to identify, leaving the patients feeling much like they have been hit by a virus. Until the disease progresses to the point where more serious symptoms emerge, many doctors, (let alone patients), find it difficult to diagnose.

Depending on which nerves are being attacked by the MS, a patient may feel tired and worn out; experience changes in their vision; have mood swings; feel depressed; or begin to have more serious symptoms like tingling in the hands; muscles weakness; tremors and more.

Multiple Scleroses can take decades to cause nay real damage to a patient’s health and well being. Still, its sudden onset of symptoms can have crippling effects, and can uproot a person or family’s life. The effects can be in the home and the person themselves.

What Does MS Effect?

MS affects the nerves that connect your body to your spinal chord and brain. This can affect your lungs, brain, and the control of muscles. It is considered an inflammatory disease and most commonly affects the optic nerves, the spinal chord, and brain.

Symptoms tend to come in cycles and flare-ups, called exacerbations.  During these flares, some relatively serious health issues may arise.  Then, all symptoms may disappear for months or even years before returning.  In more serious conditions, however, some patients may experience ongoing symptoms as well as acute flares.  Most people, however, experience symptoms in between long remissions and acute ongoing symptoms.

So, what can an MS patient expect in regards to daily symptoms as well as exacerbations?  For the vast majority, everyday life with MS remains relatively normal.  Tiredness and fatigue are to be expected, especially during stressful times, as well as some blurry vision; dizziness; or maybe trouble with your balance and coordination.

During a more acute flare, you may have to deal with slurred speech; numbness of the extremities; blurred vision, facial paralysis; weakness in the limbs incontinence and more.

Breathing Difficulties

One of the more distressful symptoms of MS is the way in which it affects the lungs.  Since muscles weakness is a direct result of the disease and the lungs are especially prone to MS muscles weakness, lung capacity may be limited. In addition,  a weakened immune system may allow bacteria and virus to attack the lungs. If pneumonia were to set in during an MS flare and the lung tissues were to become paralyzed, death could result.  That is why it is so important for MS patients to seek medical treatment whenever an upper respiratory symptoms appears – even when in remission.  Weakened lungs can be compromised without your knowledge and cause some very serious health risks.

Paralysis

Paralysis too is an important effect of MS to understand.  From temporary numbness and paralysis of the hands, arms, legs, feet and face, to permanent paralysis, MS patients must deal with an increasing weakness and numbness due to the disease. In the vast majority of cases, its victims can go on to live relatively normal lives for decades. But, eventually, some type of paralysis usually is evident and patients should be prepared for it in the future.

Blindness

In its advanced stages, MS can also cause blindness in one or both eyes.  Severe blurriness is usually all that is present, but some patients do go completely blind from its effects.

Bowel and Bladder Incontinence

Depending on which nerves are affected by MS, incontinence can also become an issue.  In many cases, these symptoms disappear when the flare is over, but that is not always the case.

Coordination and Balance

Almost every Multiple Sclerosis patient must deal with poor coordination, dizziness, loss of balance and a staggering gait form time to time. Depending on the severity of the disease and again, which nerves are being affected by it, these symptoms may be temporary or permanent and can be nothing more than a nuisance or completely debilitating

Depression

Depression and mood swings can also be an affect of MS. In some cases, medications are necessary to help keep the patient’s emotions status quo.  If you or someone you love is experiencing manic episodes or depression due to MS, it is important o realize that it is the disease causing the chaos to their mental state, and not a mental illness.

As you can see, Multiple Sclerosis is a very individualized disease. It strikes every victim differently, and can be easy to deal with, or it can permanently change your life.  The best way to keep symptoms at a minimum for as long as possible is to begin a treatment regiment early and treat new symptoms right away when they appear.  Flares will happen and it is always best to be prepared.  In the vast majority of cases, these flares will subside after a few days or weeks, and life as usual will return. Of course, the degenerative effects of MS will eventually become more and more common and it is best for all patients to begin making plans for the day when more serious symptoms will begin to alter the way they handle their day to day life.

Many people who had headaches, seizures, dizzy spells, and muscle weakness or spasms don’t have multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is a good thing to have tests done for MS is you have symptoms of MS, because the sooner you know the sooner you can decide how to treat the disease, and how to handle your life.

Early Signs of MS

There are a few early warning signs that can mean you have MS. If you are having any of the following signs you should contact a doctor about tests for multiple sclerosis:

1. Blurry vision,
2. Loss of bladder control,
3. Migraines that persist for days,
4. Tingling or numbness in your face, hands, feet, legs, and arm,
5. Temporary pins and needles while sitting.

Any of these can be early signs of almost anything. However, they could also be the early signs of MS. Many people who have these sings end up testing positive for MS.

The Main Symptoms of MS

The main symptoms of multiple sclerosis include:

• Blurry Vision
• Loss of vision
• Loss of muscle control
• Loss of balance
• Loss of bladder control
• Daily migraines
• Heat Intolerance
• Numbness

Other symptoms that vary per person include:

• Tingling
• Fatigue
• Pain in your spine
• Speech Problems

 Blurry or Loss of Vision

One of the earliest signs of MS is loss of vision or blurry vision. A man by the name of Jeffery who was 36 (current MS patient) at his diagnosis experienced loss of vision as his first symptom. His vision had started to decline dramatically in one eye. This is an odd thing to happen in only one eye so he scheduled an appointment with his eye doctor. The doctor told him he either had MS or a brain tumor. To the family’s relief it was not a brain tumor but Jeffery did have Multiple Sclerosis.

Other MS patients have experienced blurry vision in one eye that gets better and worse during the day and week. This is defiantly odd. If this type of blurry vision or if you are having rapid decline in your vision you should see a doctor about being tested for MS.

Loss of Muscle Control

Small muscle spasms even the loss of control of certain muscles can be an early sign of MS. Julie who was 22 at the time of her diagnoses had been driving a car when her first symptom hit. Her left arm began to twitch wildly and she couldn’t stop it. She had been having spasms for several weeks, but they had never been like that day. Her family urged her to see a doctor and she was diagnosed with MS.

Loss of Balance

A man who had been training for a marathon woke up one day with a splitting headache but trained anyway. Through the day his balance was off, and he felt light headed and dizzy. He made an appointment with a doctor who diagnosed him with an ear infection. He was misdiagnosed, because he truly had MS. He passed out during his marathon from a dizzy spell and he was correctly diagnosed with MS at a local hospital.

Loss of Bladder Control

If you can’t urinate when you want to, have frequent accidents, or it stings when you urinate you can be having the early symptoms of MS. Your bladder is partly controlled by part of the nervous system that is affected by MS, which is why you can lose control of your bladder if you have Multiple Sclerosis.

Daily Migraines

Because of the way MS affects your nervous system, daily headaches or migraines can be very common with MS patients. These headaches go away during the day but then come back or last for days at a time.

Heat Intolerance

If you feel dizzy, faint, or unusually uncomfortable in a warm environment you could be experiencing a symptom of MS. If you feel uncomfortable while sunbathing, sitting in a hot tub, or even exercising these could be signs of MS as well. Heat Intolerance also makes the other symptoms of multiple sclerosis stand out.

Numbness

Rick felt tingling and numbness in his right side and his wife prompted him to see a neurologist. The neurologist found lesions in Rick’s brain which were a direct result of Multiple Sclerosis which had been causing his symptoms.

Other Symptoms

The other symptoms including tingling, fatigue, Pain in the spine, and speech problems are special for each person. Some people will not be affected by these symptoms while others will be affected by all five of them. It truly depends on how advanced your MS is, who you are, and your medical history. However, seeing a doctor or neurologist if you are experiencing any of theses symptoms is not a bad idea.

Every person with Multiple Sclerosis has had many of the early symptoms. A lot of patients don’t know they have MS until symptoms get so bad that they are forced to see a doctor. Knowing what the symptoms are is the first step to catching MS and getting yourself on a treatment plan or medication.

In the search for causes of multiple sclerosis, one cause has been the topic of much debate and skepticism and that is the chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency or CCSVI. This large medical term is a condition in which the central nervous system is drained by a compromised blood flow to the veins. This condition and the term were first brought to light by an Italian researcher in 2008 named Paolo Zamboni. He believed that this condition played a direct role in the incidence of multiple sclerosis.

Many people in the medical community do not believe this and it has become a topic of debate among MS researchers; however, it has not stopped the researchers from considering the link and investigating it further. The biggest factor standing in the way of this research is the inherent danger of testing for CCSVI.

Studying CCSVI

In order to study CCSVI, researchers honed in on people with MS who also had been identified as having CCSVI. One such study, a small group of fifteen patients with both conditions, showed that there are several human antigens that are present in both conditions. Another study showed that patients with CCSVI and MS had an almost double rate of these antigens and variations than the control group did; however, the same study found that one particular gene variation that is present in MS does not appear in CCSVI in any of the instances. This simply leads to more questions than answers when it comes to the correlation between the two conditions.

The one thing that has been determined is that much more research is needed. Some studies indicate that CCSVI is not a cause of MS but may play a role in the condition of many people with multiple sclerosis. People who have MS and want to know more about this research and its implications should follow the reports closely. Some of the recent information is presented here to help get MS patients on board with what is known and what is occurring in this important area of research.

First and foremost are the methods used in determining if CCSVI is present in a person. There must be a best practice put in place and adhered to simply to prevent putting a person in any danger from the testing and to ensure that all tests are handled in the same manner so that results are not challenged.
In their efforts to move research forward and create a best practice, researchers are focusing on key areas such as:

• The best method of imaging CCSVI and how to best implement it.
• The reasons that CCSVI appears more often in people who have a progressive illness.
• Understanding the correlation between what is found on ultrasounds and what a normal variation is and what venous insufficiency is in relation to this.
• The reason that CCSVI is present in children.
• How MS and CCSVI are related in other facets of the disease such as its duration, MRI results and the progression of the disease. The condition will be compared to MS without CCSVI and CCSVI without MS and a relationship determined.

Researchers will use their answers and ideas to these areas to help plan a best practice for diagnosing CCSVI and thus pave the way to finding how the two conditions are related.

Research on the Effects of Treating CCSVI

If the research on CCSVI and its relationship to MS prove to be successful, the next logical step is to determine if treating the blocked veins would be beneficial or detrimental to MS patients. This is one area that has been the topic of many debates, as the treatment of blocked veins can often be dangerous. Researchers and scientists will have to find the answers to many questions including:

• What risks are associated with the procedure to unblock veins?
• Does treatment of CCSVI have a positive effect on all types of multiple sclerosis?
• Is the treatment permanent and if not how long will it last?
• Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Is the treatment reliable?
• Is treatment of CCSVI more beneficial than common therapy being used to treat MS?

Like the answers to the questions in the first phase of research, the answers to these questions will help determine if CCSVI treatment is effective in patients with multiple sclerosis.

There are many agencies receiving funding grants to continue these studies and many more patients with multiple sclerosis watching the medical news in hopes of finding that science has found an answer to their pain.

Scientist and doctors around the world are diligently working toward finding more treatment options for patients with MS. Many of them have placed their hope in CCSVI and treating it in order to treat MS. Until more research is conducted, MS patients will have to watch and read in order to stay abreast of the results.

Well-balanced diets are essential for maintaining good health and even more important if there is a chronic condition such as multiple sclerosis. Determining what the best diet is for multiple sclerosis patients is one of the things a nutritionist will help with when providing advice for living with multiple sclerosis. The nutritionist knows that body needs to have proper nutrition for energy and fighting infection.

Planning the MS Diet

People with multiple sclerosis can work with a nutritionist to plan their diet and they can use information compiled by doctors, nutritionists and other MS patients to put together a personalized diet plan. Some of this nutritional information is presented below to help get the diet plan started.

The most obvious place to start is with foods that should be avoided. Food allergies should be taken into consideration and listed so that they are not accidentally included in the diet plan. Dairy products should be limited in quantity as they have a tendency to make the body more acidic and also more prone to disease.

Inflammation is a major source of painful symptoms for people who have multiple sclerosis. Foods that are natural anti-inflammatory agents should be included in the diet to help prevent a host of other symptoms from occurring. The following foods have natural anti-inflammatory properties:

• Seeds and nuts: walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are excellent not only for their anti-inflammatory properties but also due to their protein and omega-three fatty acid content.
• Herb and spices: Basil, cocoa, mint, cinnamon, chili pepper and cloves are excellent for preventing inflammation and also have anti-oxidant properties.
• Oils: Olive oil and vegetable oil both fight inflammation.
• Seafood: Salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel and oysters are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and help prevent inflammation in the MS patient.
• Fruits and vegetables: Green leafy vegetables not only fight inflammation but are packed with antioxidants. Some of the best choices include broccoli, cabbage, collards, spinach, green beans, bells pepper and other leafy vegetables. Fruits include strawberries, raspberries, limes, tomatoes, orange, guava and many other fresh fruit.

Fresh foods, such as those included above are a must when preparing a diet for multiple sclerosis. Processed foods should be avoided as they are typically very high in sodium which can lead to inflammation and serious pain. Utilizing fresh foods helps the body with digestion and aids in staying as healthy as possible. It may take a little more effort to prepare fresh foods but the end result is a powerful tool for coping with multiple sclerosis. The body is better able to absorb vitamins and nutrients from fresh foods.

Foods to Avoid

Many nutritionists and people with multiple sclerosis have found that a gluten free diet is an excellent plan for living with the disease. Gluten is found in many processed foods and in order to eliminate it, the packages must be read to find out what the ingredients include. Flour, barley, oats and rye should not be an ingredient. Gluten free is becoming a popular was of living for many people and so manufacturers have begun indicating on the package when a product is gluten free.

There has been a correlation found between saturate fat and processed meats such as sausage and lunch meats and the incidence of multiple sclerosis. This would make these products foods that should not be included in the diet plan.

Sugar should be avoided and alternatives such as honey used in its place. There are many unsweetened fruit juices that can be used in place of high sugar ones as well as many other low-sugar and alternative sweetener products.

High-fat foods should be avoided by everyone; however, the multiple sclerosis diet should make an extra effort to avoid saturated fats. Skinless chicken, fish and other seafood are meat choices that have little or no saturated feet.

Water

The importance of water in the diet cannot be overstated. Everyone needs to drink at least 8 (8 oz.) glasses of water and the person with multiple sclerosis is no different. Water keeps the body hydrated and the cells in the body healthy. Healthy cells help keep some of the symptoms that are associated with multiple sclerosis at bay.

Overall, the diet for multiple sclerosis is simply a very healthy diet that is perfect for anyone, not just the person with MS. The diet is filled with healthy, unprocessed foods that are low in saturated fat and packed with fresh fruits and vegetables. While there are some foods that should be avoided, such as gluten and sugar, those same foods should be avoided by anybody wanting to eat healthy. If the doctor feels that a special diet is required, a nutritionist will help plan out what should and should not be included to make the diet an MS healthy diet.

For many people, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is one step closer to treatment of a host of symptoms that have possibly been unexplained for a long time, sometimes years. The symptoms associated with this disease are so varied that many doctors are stymied as to their origin and the patient simply has to keep seeking answers until the right tests are performed and all the pieces of the puzzle come together.

What is MS?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the auto-immune system in which the Myelin Sheath that insulates the nerves is attacked and damaged. This damage prevents the nerves from communicating with each other properly and thus a host of symptoms begins to occur. Many of the symptoms are identical to those of other diseases and some are simply baffling to doctors. This makes diagnosing the disease hard and often time consuming.

Testing

In order to diagnose multiple sclerosis, the doctor must first have a complete overview of the symptoms that are being experienced. The combination of many different symptoms should lead to testing for multiple sclerosis. The difficulty lies in the fact that no two MS patients have identical symptoms. However, if MS is suspected, the doctor should order tests, including:

• Brain and spine MRI which allows the doctor to look for specific inflammation and lesions.
• Spinal Tap
• Neurological testing known as nerve conduction tests to look for nerve damage.
• Sed Rate: This is a lab test that will also indicate if inflammation is present.

A complete physical exam will also be done and will include coordination and strength tests to determine if those have been affected by anything, which, in this case would be the MS.

Treatment

Once the testing is completed and a diagnosis has been made, the next most important step is treatment of the disease. There are medications that will assist with the inflammation and symptoms and provide the necessary relief needed to live as symptom free as possible. There are multiple forms of treatment that doctors will provide and explain such as:

• Medications for many of the symptoms associated with MS such as fatigue, pain when walking, nausea and vomiting, UTI, spastic muscles, depression and much more. Some medications are available without a prescription, such as those for constipation and others are only available with a prescription.
• Self-care techniques and rehabilitative therapy: This includes therapy to help with any cognitive symptoms such as speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Rehabilitation Programs: These are programs designed to help with MS symptoms that have become severe and affected daily life. These programs help patients learn or relearn how to perform daily living functions despite having disabilities.

Rehabilitation programs should be considered part of an ongoing treatment for MS, as the disease progresses there are different types of programs, such as therapy for swallowing and speaking, physical therapy to assist with mobility and muscle tone, vocational rehabilitation, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Doctors and therapists, along with input from the patient, will put together a treatment plan for the newly diagnosed patient. This plan will be reassessed over time to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the patient adequately.

Disclosure

One of the first things many newly diagnosed MS patients ponder is who to tell, if anyone. There is no right or wrong answer as this is a personal decision. The important thing to keep in mind is that support is an important tool in fighting any disease.

Family members may be a support tool that is needed during this time. Friends don’t have to be told at first, unless there are some very close friends that will offer the needed support to deal with the disease.

Before disclosing the disease to employers, the newly diagnosed patient should carefully research the Americans with Disabilities Act and weigh the cost of disclosing the disease. Many people with MS decide not to inform their employer until they simply have to due to symptoms becoming too bad to continue working.

The decision about whether or not to tell people about being diagnosed with MS is not one that should be made on the spur of the moment. Although it shouldn’t matter, many people don’t want others to pity them or think they are disabled. The shock of the disease may at first have friends and family stunned and puzzled; however, if they research the symptoms and learn more about the disease they will soon see that it is okay to ask questions and act normally.

Ultimately, being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is a life-changing experience that requires an adjustment period. However, once a treatment plan is put in place and family and friends understand the disease, it can be dealt with like any other disease and life lived to the fullest.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. This disease is considered an inflammatory disease and tends to attack younger people and women in particular. The definition of multiple sclerosis is much more in depth than simply being an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and varies depending on who is explaining the disease. This disease has many facets and symptoms that are different for every person who is diagnosed with is and this article attempts to define the disease in the best possible manner for people who have it and want to understand more about it.

Many Symptoms, One Disease

Multiple sclerosis presents itself in many different ways in different people. No two people will have the exact same set of symptoms. This variation in indicators is part of what makes multiple sclerosis hard to diagnose. Some of the most common symptoms that can be indicative of multiple sclerosis include those listed below; however, this should not be considered an exhaustive list as there can be many other symptoms depending on the extent of the disease and the part of the body that is being attacked the most.

• Weakness or generalized fatigue
• Numbness in various limbs of the body
• Vertigo
• Loss of balance
• Weak bladder
• Weak or poor vision
• Coordination problems
• Dexterity problems
• Loss of pain sensation
• Mental distress such as mania or depression
• Heat sensitivity – this is the worsening of other symptoms when exposed to heat.
• Cognitive issues such as impaired thinking.
• Muscle spasms in the arms and legs
• Abnormal sensations such as prickly feelings, burning, stabbing feelings that are not life threatening but are unexplained.
• Speech problems
• Swallowing problems
• Tremors – if present, tremors are hard to treat and can be debilitating.
• Breathing problems – more rare than most of the other symptoms.
• Seizures – also more rare than other symptoms.

If these symptoms are present and the doctor has had some experience with multiple sclerosis then testing will be done to determine if MS is the cause of these symptoms.

Neurological testing must be done and there has to be at least two indicators in the brain or spinal cord. Lesions on the white matter of the brain are one indicator that could be present to diagnose the disease.

Symptoms do not present themselves in the same manner or course in every person. Some people may start with only one symptom while others may have many different symptoms. The level of progression of the symptoms will also vary from person to person.

Different Levels of Multiple Sclerosis

In addition to diagnosing multiple sclerosis, the doctor must also determine at which level of multiple sclerosis the patient is presenting. There are three such levels or types of multiple sclerosis: relapse remitting, progressive and primary progressive, each described below.

Relapse remitting multiple sclerosis is typically the first type of multiple sclerosis to be diagnosed in a person. This type is part of what makes diagnosing MS difficult because, as the name implies, there are periods of active disease and periods of remission. These back and forth symptomatic periods come and go with no warning that they are going to occur. This stage of MS may continue for years or for a short period of time.

As multiple sclerosis progresses, the remission stages become shorter and the symptoms of the disease tend to worsen, this is known as secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. This stage happens at differing time periods of the disease. Some people will have a longer time in the relapsing remitting stage than others; however, secondary progressive tends to manifest at or around the ten year mark of having the disease.

Primary progressive is the worst level of multiple sclerosis and typically has no remission periods. This is the level of the disease that is the extreme end of the disease and typically signifies a shortening of life expectancy. It is hard to predict when this phase of the disease will manifest and is usually only diagnosed by the lack of remission periods.

These various phases or types of multiple sclerosis are highly unpredictable and difficult to diagnosis. Some people may go for as many as ten years without a flare up of the disease while others may have more frequent bouts and go from one extreme to the other. Doctors have to be very diligent in their testing and diagnosis of this disease in order to be certain they have made the correct diagnosis.

Defining multiple sclerosis is not as easy as reading a medical textbook and choosing the right disease. There are simply too many symptoms and signs that can point to many other diseases. Doctors must rely on testing of the brain and spinal cord combined with the presentation of symptoms in order to make a correct diagnosis.

Multiple Sclerosis, an incurable disease of the autoimmune system and central nervous system, is extremely rare in children. So rare that it is thought that only about five to ten percent of children experience an MS onset in childhood. This, along with many other factors can make diagnosing childhood MS extremely difficult, but the fact remains that children are not immune to the disease.

Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis in Children

While more and more neurologists are recognizing the fact that children can and do experience an MS onset, detection and diagnosis may be elusive, especially in the early stages. MS in and of itself is difficult to diagnose, even for adults. This compounded with the fact that MS in children is so rare and that symptoms of MS in children often mimic ADEM (acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis), can make the road to diagnosis a long and tedious process for both the suffering child and their caregivers.

Symptoms of Childhood Multiple Sclerosis

MS, by nature, varies from one person to the next. For this reason, there are no exact symptoms for MS in adults or in children. There are, however, common symptoms that are often seen in children with MS. These symptoms can include tremors, problems with memory or thinking and poor coordination. Other possible symptoms can include problems with swallowing or speech, problems with bowel movements or urination and emotional problems.

Treatment for MS in Children

While there is no cure for MS, there are treatments. Treatment goals are likely to include: pain management and slowing progression of the disease. Drug treatments as well as a variety of therapies that can help keep your child’s body active and healthy are likely to be combined for the maximum effect.

Keep in mind that MS is highly unpredictable. Your child will visit the doctor regularly to monitor their condition, but if you notice that your child is regressing or experiencing pain or new problems, you may need to call the office and make an appointment sooner. MS can change at any given moment and handling those changes quickly is important.

How to Cope with a Child with MS?

Your child may be the one diagnosed with MS, but an MS diagnosis, especially in a child, affects the entire family. Greif, worry, sadness, uncertainty and even guilt can affect your relationship with your child, your other children and your spouse. These emotions can even lead to deterioration of self-worth for the primary caregiver.

The first thing that you should know is that your child’s MS is not a reflection of you as a parent. MS isn’t anyone’s fault. You didn’t do this to your child, your child didn’t ask for the disease and no one in your family asked to have to deal with the disease. It is sad. It is unfortunate. It is devastating. But it is no one’s fault.

Your emotions are not a bad or wrong thing, but what you do with them can either bring your family closer together during this trying and difficult time or tear you apart. Support groups are offered for families that deal with MS. Therapy is also an option. These are all services that can help you and everyone in your family cope with the changes and trials that MS will bring to your family.

Helping Your Child Cope with Their Diagnosis

Children are much smarter than we sometimes give them credit for. Children often know that something is wrong, even if an adult does not directly tell them. By not talking to your child, you can evoke fear and allow self-blame to manifest in their heads and their hearts. Talking to your child about their disease, as difficult as it may be, is important.

A few things you may want to talk to your child about:

• What is MS?
• How will MS affect them?
• Are they going to die?
• Is MS their fault?

These are some of the most common fears and feelings that children with MS express. Expression can take the form of anger, depression and behavior problems. Try to remember, especially early on, to be patient with your child as they try to cope with the weight of their illness.

MS and Your Child’s School

Some families worry about their child’s education after an MS diagnosis. While a valid concern, you should know that your child’s school is required by law to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ that will help your child be successful in school. Adjustments that your child may need and the school can and should offer if needed include:

• Flexible schedules
• A classroom assistant that can help your child in class with tasks like note taking and writing
• Using a computer instead of pencil and paper
• More time for exams if concentration is a problem

Because MS is so rare in children, you may have to take time to talk to your child’s school. This will help the school understand how to best help your child in school.

No parent wants to hear a diagnosis like MS for their child, but there is hope and there is life. Talk to a professional if you need help, seek the support of others, and above all, be there for your child the best you can.

Multiple sclerosis is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t matter if a person is famous or common, rich or poor, black, white or Asian, the disease attacks all people. This inflammatory disease attacks the brain and spinal cord. Neurons are damaged and years of multiple systems will appear as the disease progresses. Many celebrities have been diagnosed with MS and have used that diagnosis to bring more attention to the disease in an effort to help raise money for research. Many of these are included here along with information about their fight with MS.

Celebrities Coping with MS

• Donna Fargo: This country music songwriter and singer who is best known for her song “Happiest Girl in the Whole USA” revealed to the world in 1979 that she had been diagnosed with MS. Her disease has been in remission for years and has made her an inspiration to others fighting their own battle with MS.
• Richard Pryor: Now deceased, this comedian and actor was diagnosed with the disease in 1986 but did not publicly announce it until 1991. After being diagnosed he was finally able to be a lifelong drug habit, something he laughingly credited to the disease. He died in 2005.
• Clive Burr: Heavy metal fans know Clive Burr as the drummer for Iron Maiden, a British metal band. Burr’s diagnosis with MS has put him in financial stress and led to many MS benefit concerts by Iron Maiden.
• Annette Funicello: This mousketeer from Walt Disney’s Mousketeers, an American singer and actress was diagnosed with MS in 1987 and has been fighting the disease heroically since that time.
• Montel Williams: Montel is a television talk show host, former Marine and the first African American to attend the Naval Preparatory School. He has many awards from his naval career and is now battling MS. He spends time and money helping people with medical conditions find ways to afford their medications.
• David Humm: Humm was a professional quarterback in the NFL for several teams, including the Oakland Raiders and the Baltimore Colts. At the age of 49, he was diagnosed with ms and nine years later lost complete use of his legs. His disability made him unable to continue to travel and commentate on games.

These are but a handful of the celebrities that are affected by multiple sclerosis and yet they show the cross section of the public that this disease can ravage. Writers, actors, sports stars and singers, along with the everyday, common person can be struck by MS and have their world turned upside down in an instant.

How MS Works

MS is an inflammatory disease that attacks the central nervous system. The neurons that communicate with muscles, nerves and other vital systems in the body are directly attacked and the protective sheath that surrounds them is violated.

Once this damage occurs, the neurons are unable to communicate with each other and the systems in the body that they control. The end result is a progressive disease that may start out with only mild symptoms that are unable to be diagnosed followed by no symptoms for years. Then, the symptoms may reappear in a much more extreme manner and the person can become totally disabled. Other people may experience extreme symptoms quickly and become disabled much sooner.

The Symptoms and Effects of MS

There are many common symptoms of MS that may appear early in the disease, such as:

• Tingling and numbness in the limbs.
• Balance and coordination trouble.
• Weakness that affects the limbs – this can be one or more.
• Vision problems such as double vision or blurriness.

There are other symptoms that are less common in the beginning states but that may be present and should not be ignored, such as:

• Paralysis that comes on suddenly.
• Speech that begins to slur.
• Difficulty with thinking, remembering or other cognitive abilities.

Typically, MS progresses and the symptoms tend to become worse and more varied in nature. Some of the more common symptoms that will appear include:

• Extreme fatigue that has no origin. This is more than simply feeling tired; it is a lethargy that is often described as unexplained sleepiness, weakens and pure exhaustion.
• Muscle spasms that are in the arms, legs or both and that cause movement to be slowed.
• Mental issues such as problems with thought patterns and the ability to think clearly. This also includes depression, mania, and other mental conditions. These issues can affect daily life and press the need for care.

There are many other symptoms of MS that may appear and each person who is affected with the disease will have their own set of conditions. It is important for anyone with MS to understand that they are not alone. Celebrities and people of stature have MS just as the everyday person does and that they treatment options are the same for everyone, no matter who they might be.

Multiple sclerosis is a baffling and debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system, presenting itself in a myriad of symptoms. Scientists and doctors have studied this disease for many years in an effort to define the causes of multiple sclerosis and ultimately find treatment that will stop the progression and offer hope to those who suffer from it. There are many things that have been identified as possible triggers that cause the disease to surface but nothing has been conclusively identified as being the sole cause.

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis

It is well known how multiple sclerosis presents itself. The motor neurons are attacked when this inflammatory disease is present in a person. This attack on the neurons causes the myelin sheaf that insulates them to be damaged and cause communication between the neurons to be cut off. Without this communication, the neurons are not able to tell the muscles and other systems in the body what they need to be doing. This causes a chain reaction of symptoms such as muscle weakness, depression, tremors and more. Scientists are working toward finding out what causes the neurons to be damaged.

Possible Causes

Presently, the only factor that has been found that can be directly linked to the incidence of multiple sclerosis is genetics. However, this finding doesn’t show how the disease enters the body in the beginning. Identifying the genes that are behind the disease is one of the goals of scientists as this has not been determined at this point. Once the gene has been identified, it will help scientists know how to proceed in searching for causes.

Some scientists suspect that one cause of multiple sclerosis is a combination of genetics and outside influences that are environmental. This is due to the behavior of the disease and its autoimmune response. One environmental factor that is thought to play a role is exposure to certain chemicals for long periods, such as being treated with chemotherapy drugs.

Another possibility that is thought to cause multiple sclerosis is infection early in life that later manifests itself as an inflammatory disease in the central nervous system that eventually is identified as MS.

The Genetic Link

Regardless of not knowing how the gene became damaged in the first place, the genetic link is profound and the one cause that can be a certainty in approximately 30% of MS patients. MS, like many other autoimmune diseases, is very easily transferred through blood which makes it easy for one generation to pass it to the next generation. When the gene is discovered that causes MS, scientists can work on ways to prevent this genetic malady from continuing from generation to generation.

Infections or Virus

Some theories abound that an infectious agent could be a trigger for the disease. This theory would better explain why the disease affects people across the board, not just one age group or race. Infections are hard to avoid if they aren’t known about and so this theory must be further explored in order to determine what infection it is if any.

There are also viral agents that are quite similar in makeup to the protective myelin sheath. If these agents enter the body, they could confuse the immune system and cause it to fight against itself and ultimately destroy the healthy nerves. There are several viral agents on the possibility list, including:

• Herpes viruses such as HHV-6 or childhood roseola
• Chlamydia Pneumonia
• Epstein Barr Virus
• Measles Virus
• Polyomavirus
• Retroviruses such as HTLV-I and HIV

More research is needed to determine if these viruses are culprits in causing MS and if so, how to protect the body from the damage if exposed to them.

Other Possibilities

There are other possibilities being explored to help determine the cause of this debilitating disease in order to learn how to prevent it and treat it. One of these is trauma. Physical damage occurring to the spinal cord could very well be a cause of MS. Any trauma to the spinal cord has the possibility of causing damage to nerves and this damage could ultimately lead to MS.

Stress is another possibility being explored. Stress plays a large role in many health conditions as it causes the body to produce many different hormones and chemicals that are not normally present in a stress free life. The possibility of these chemicals playing a role in the incidence of multiple sclerosis is being carefully researched. This cause may seem like a stretch to many people but in the world of multiple sclerosis research, any and all possibilities must be explored.

The cause of MS may not be fully understood at this point; however, what is understood is the devastating effect it has on life and the need for continued research to find not only what causes the disease but also how to prevent and treat it for future generations.