Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease, which simply means that the body attacks itself, and inflammation and scarring of tissue in the brain and spinal cord results. the inflammation breaks down the thick covering of the nerves (myelin). this process of breaking down the nerves, or myelin is called demyelination. Multiple sclerosis gets its name from the fact that the nervous system tissue becomes hardened following the demyelination. This hardening is called sclerosis.
Healthy myelin helps the body by speeding along electrical impulses to the nerve cells that help us to perform critical activities such as walking and eating. Individuals with MS have damaged myelin, so the electrical impulses are slowed, delayed or missing. This means that the person will have difficulty with walking, and doing other activities that require muscle control. MS causes symptoms such as fatigue, loss of muscle strength, muscle stiffness, pain, tingling, paralysis and fatigue.
Neurologists are the doctors who specialize in diseases such as MS. They have two categories for MS. The first category is relapsing-remitting and is distinguished by abrupt changes in the nerve function fo the person with MS. They may have periods of illness with symptoms, followed by complete recovery. They, the disease progresses, and the person my have mild symptoms even during periods of remission. The second category of MS is called chronic progressive disease and there are no periods of temporary recovery in this type of MS.
There are two very different lines of thinking when it comes to treatment plans for individuals suffering from MS. One treatment plan focuses on reducing the swelling around the nerves and stopping the body's attack on itself. The other treatment plan concentrates on relieving symptoms.
Those who have the chronic progressive form of MS are more difficult to treat. The drugs used to treat them often are strong and have serious side effects. The risks for side efects are seen to be worth the improvement experienced by the individual taking the drug. Only 1/3 of those who receive these drugs show improvement; the rest either remain stable, or progress despite medication.
A promising drug that is currently being studied is called copolymer-1, and its side effects appear to be few. Physical therapy is often used to help MS patients to maintain flexibility in their joints, which helps to relive stiffness, and may reduce muscle spasms.
Total lymphoid radiation is another therapy that was recently used to test on those with MS. This is a radiation treatment that is used on the entire immune system and has been used for 20 years now in the treatment of early stages of a cancer, Hodgkin's disease. Studies showed that it might also help stabilize those who have severe MS. There is a large clinical trial that is planned.
Treatment plans should include a combination of medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes that may improve the quality of life of the MS individual.
