WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?
* A condition of the central nervous system, interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
* Symptoms depend on where in the central nervous system - brain, spinal cord or optic nerves - the sclerosis 'scars' develop
* Most people diagnosed are between 20-40
* Roughly three times as many women have MS as men.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
* Symptoms are varied and unpredictable, with no two cases the same
* Symptoms can be any combination of five major issues:
* Motor control - muscular spasms and problems with weakness, co-ordination, balance and functioning of the arms and legs
* Fatigue and heat sensitivity
* Neurological symptoms: vertigo, pins and needles, neuralgia and visual disturbances
* Bladder incontinence and constipation
Neuropsychological symptoms: memory loss, depression and cognitive difficulties
ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MS?
* MS takes on one of four forms or stages, each of which might be mild, moderate, or severe:
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) - the most common form of MS (75%) which is characterised by partial or total recovery after attacks
Secondary progressive MS (SPMS) - more than 50% of patients with RRMS will develop this more progressive form of MS this within 10 years, 90% within 25 years.
Primary progressive MS (PPMS) - symptoms generally do not remit or abate and affects 15 % of people with a MS diagnosis
Progressive-relapsing MS (PRMS) - obvious acute attacks from the outset but is quite rare, affecting 6-10% of MS patients
IS THERE A CURE?
* There is no known cure, however there are a number of treatment options available to help manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease.
* The two main aims of drug therapy are to ease specific symptoms and hamper the progression of disease by shortening the attacks.
* Immunotherapy medications are often used to slow frequency and severity of attacks
* Methylprednisolone, a steroid medication, is also used to control the severity of an MS attack by easing inflammation
(Source: MS Research Australia)
