Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Multiple Sclerosis -A puzzling, cruel, yet fascinating disease. A non contagious
chronic disorder which can present with a variety of neurological symptoms.
The expression Multiple Sclerosis is used as a description and diagnosis of the disease.
This is inaccurate, multiple sclerosis is a description of the pathology.
Multiple means more than one and sclerosis means scarring; “Many Scars” is as accurate
a description and diagnosis as Multiple Sclerosis.
The formation of scar tissue is the lowest common denominator of healing whereby
the primary cells are unable to regenerate.
Currently MS has no cure and the exact cause remains unknown despite the many years
spent by enquiring and brilliant minds within the scientific community.
MS is difficult to characterise, it is very unpredictable and variable. Depending
on which areas of the central nervous system are affected and how badly damaged it
becomes, the type and severity of symptoms can vary greatly.
A person may need to make some changes to their lifestyle because of MS, but it is
important to remember that MS is only a part of that persons life – there are many
other things still going on in their life that they will want or need to do.
The person may look well on the outside but feel awful on the inside, however they
cannot expect others to know and understand how they feel. Others will not be able
to understand unless it is explained to them what a person is experiencing and feeling.
When explaining a situation, how the person feels, how they see themselves, they
must avoid words of self pity it will only serve to push people away at a time when
they may need support.
Generally considered a Relapsing Remitting Disease MS is the most common primary
neurological disorder in young adults.
Symptoms will appear and then diminish, either partially or completely and for most
people this is the way the disease begins.
The hallmark of multiple sclerosis is the emergence of multiple areas of inflammation
(lesions) damage to the protective myelin sheath that covers nerve fibres (axons)
and scarring of the nerve fibres. Lesions tend to be randomly distributed in the
CNS white matter.
The neurons of the white matter are responsible for sending communication impulses
within the CNS and from the CNS to the rest of the body.
Demyelinated axons do not function efficiently and it is the damage caused which
give rise to the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Although MS often evolves into, but is not always, a progressive disease, its severity
varies widely.
Some people have few discernable symptoms, while others steadily lose mobility and
may eventually require wheelchair assistance to move.
It is impossible to know precisely what type and course any individual case of MS
will follow. Looking at the experiences of a group of MS people certain patterns
may appear to emerge, however when you focus on an individual it becomes impossible
to fit any one pattern exactly to that person.
The type and progression of MS in any individual will not necessarily unfold into
a fixed pattern for the future.
The principal determinant of long-term MS disability is neuronal degeneration.
The cause of MS is unknown, as is the exact pathogenesis (The development of the
disease. The origin of the disease and the chain of events leading to the disease).
Multiple Sclerosis is clinically a heterogeneous condition, (not uniform in structure
or composition), and still defies exact definition.
Its speed of progression varies from person to person.
The severity of its symptoms varies from person to person.
The variety of symptoms experienced varies from person to person.
The areas of the body affected by the progression of the disease varies from person
to person.
So! Where are we now?
Overview - Thus far
MS - A neurological disease that is usually first diagnosed in young adults anywhere
between 17 yrs to 35 years of age.
Inflammation and ultimately the loss of myelin from the surface of nerves (axons)
leads to scarring.
Relapses (exacerbations) occur intermittently.
Subsequent remissions follow exacerbations.
There are various types of multiple sclerosis (subtypes with differing symptoms and
progression).
A gender preference exists: more common in women.
The gender ratio generally varies anywhere between 2:1 and 6:1.
Risk of developing multiple sclerosis alters with migration.
There may be an latency period after the disease has been triggered but before symptoms
appear.
Heritage - Family members have a slightly greater risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
An identical twin has a 1 in 4 chance of developing MS.
Geographical belts of multiple sclerosis appear to circle the world.
Multiple sclerosis appears to be more common in northern Caucasians, however hotspots
of MS exist and accurate figures of MS prevalence world wide do not exist.
Clusters occur.
Sunlight deficiency a risk factor.
High risk of osteoporosis developing.
Access to supporting therapies is very limited. I.e. Physiotherapy, pilates, hyperbaric
oxygenation, good dietary advice and so on.
