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It is important to remember that MS is only one part of a person and not the person.
MS does not represent them, it is not their identity, they are as normal as the next person.
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Primary -
Characterised by a gradual progression of the disease from its onset with no remissions
at all. There may be periods of levelling off of disease activity and, as with Secondary-
Primary Progressive MS affects approx 10% of people diagnosed with MS. It is called this because from the first (primary) symptoms it is progressive. Symptoms gradually get worse over time, rather than appearing as sudden attacks (relapses).
Onset
Typically in the late thirties or early forties, older than the average age for relapsing remitting MS, however it can be diagnosed at a younger or older age, and men are as likely as women to develop primary progressive MS. Initial disease activity occurs in the spinal cord and not in the brain.
Early symptoms
Often subtle problems with walking, the problems develop, usually slowly, over time.
People diagnosed with primary progressive MS rarely have relapses and this is the
most obvious difference with the more common relapsing remitting MS. In the long-
Most people with primary
progressive MS develop problems with their walking. At first, the changes may be
so slight that they may be difficult to notice such as:
- Difficulty running.
- Difficulties climbing up or descending stairs.
- Walking becomes difficult.
- Weakness in the legs is experienced.
- Over time progressive stiffness and weakness of both legs occurs.
Primary pProgressive MS tends to involve the spinal cord yet often migrates into the brain, but is less likely to damage brain areas then Relapsing Remitting MS or Secondary Progressive MS.
The spinal cord is a vital part of the central nervous system involved in controlling:
- The legs
- The Bladder
- The Bowel
- Sexual functions
This would suggest why symptoms of the bladder, bowel and sexual function can sometimes accompany problems with the legs.
Because of the different way it affects people and the different MRI features, it has been considered that primary progressive MS may be a completely different condition to relapsing remitting MS. However, it may also be considered that these two forms of MS might be at different ends of the same spectrum?
Generally, MS strikes more women than man -
Among the varying patterns of illness / symptoms in multiple sclerosis, Primary Progressive MS is the most elusive.
- It is slow and insidious.
- It is difficult to study (long-
term research is required). - Early on, men and women had equal disease severity and rates of progression.
- After about 20 years the level of the disease severity (primary progressive) amongst men begins to outstrip that of women.
Some diagnosed with progressive MS from the start, may also have occasional relapses. The progression is still the main cause of symptoms gradually getting worse, but because there are sometimes relapses this may be described as progressive relapsing MS.