Multiple Sclerosis
...f the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain and this produces the various symptoms of MS. The areas where myelin is lost, plaques or lesions appear as hardened scar areas. In multiple sclerosis, these scars appear at different times and in different areas of the brain and spinal cord. The term multiple sclerosis means, literally, many scars. (www.msif.org) The decision to have a family should be considered carefully when one or both partners have MS. Many couples are concerned about the risk that their children will also get MS. It is important to remember that while there is a slightly increased risk of MS in the children where one of the parents has MS compared to the general population, that risk is still very low. (www.msif.org) While the heredity of MS is not clear-cut, close relatives of people with MS have an increased risk compared with the general population of people who do not have any family link. Results from family studies on MS suggest that the lifetime risk for a child of a parent with MS to also develop MS ranges from 3-5%, if the MS parent is the only family member with the disorder. The risk figure will vary if there are several family members with MS and/or MS occurs on both the maternal and paternal side. (www.msif.org) There are many types of MS, and it affects people’s daily lives in all different ways. Some people with MS are in wheel chairs, and would not be able to walk for the rest of their lives. Other people who are diagnosed with MS can walk, run, and do other activities, even run a television show for example, Montel Williams. Everyone is affected differently, some that have M.S. may be suffering, and others may not be suffering. This disease cannot get better, but there is medicine that can not make it worse. There are many types and kinds of MS. There are some serious ones, and some not so serious ones. This type is called Relapsing-Remitting MS. In this form of MS there are unpredictable relapses, exacerbations, or attacks during which new symptoms appear or existing symptoms become more severe. This can last for varying periods days or months and there is partial or total remission recovery. The disease may be inactive for months or years. (Approximately 25%) The second type is called Benign. After one or two attacks with complete recovery, this form of MS does not worsen with time and there is no permanent disability. Benign MS can only be identified when there is minimal disability. In 10-15 years after onset and initially would have been categorized as relapsing-remitting MS. Benign MS tends to be associated with less severe symptoms at onset (e.g. sensory). Approximately 20% The last two types are secondary progressive and primary progressive. For secondary progressive, some individuals who initially have relapsing-remitting MS, there is the development of progressive disability later in the course of the disease often with superimposed relapses. (Approximately 40%). Primary progressive is a form of MS is characterized by a lack of distinct attacks, but with slow onset and steadily worsening symptoms. There is an accumulation of deficits and disability which may level off at some point or continue over months and years. ( Approximately 15%) (www.msfacts.org) Unlike many other diseases, there is no positive or negative test for MS and none of the range of tests available to help doctors with their diagnosis is 100% conclusive on its own. This means that ultimately a doctor will diagnose MS by a combination of observing a person’s symptoms, and ruling out other possibilities. This is called a clinical diagnosis. A definite diagnosis is still not possible even after all the available tests have been carried out...