What is sclerosis multiple

There are also many organisations globally that provide information and resources for people living with MS. How is MS diagnosed? What is Multiple Sclerosis MS? Multiple sclerosis. What are the most common symptoms of MS? Dizziness and Vertigo. Visual Disturbances. Sexual Issues. Bladder and Bowel Issues. The MS treatment landscape.

Australian MS organisations. MS Queensland. International MS organisations. Bowel problems: Constipation can cause fecal impaction, which can lead to bowel incontinence. Dizziness and vertigo: These are common problems, along with balance and coordination issues. Spasticity and muscle spasms: This is an early sign of MS. Damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord and brain can cause painful muscle spasms, including in the legs. Vision problems : Some people may experience double or blurred vision or a partial or total loss of vision.

This usually affects one eye at a time. Inflammation of the optic nerve can result in pain when the eye moves. Vision problems are an early sign of MS. Gait and mobility changes: MS can change the way people walk due to muscle weakness and problems with balance, dizziness, and fatigue.

Emotional changes and depression: Demyelination and nerve fiber damage in the brain can trigger emotional changes. Learning and memory problems: These can make it difficult to concentrate, plan, learn, prioritize, and multitask.

Pain: Pain is a common symptom in MS. Neuropathic pain is directly due to MS. Other types of pain occur because of weakness or stiffness of muscles. There is also a higher risk of urinary tract infections , reduced activity, and loss of mobility. In the later stages, people may experience changes in perception and thinking, as well as sensitivity to heat. MS affects individuals differently. For some, it starts with a subtle sensation, and their symptoms do not progress for months or years.

Sometimes, symptoms worsen rapidly, within weeks or months. A few people will only have mild symptoms, and others will experience significant changes that lead to disability. However, most people will experience times when symptoms worsen and then get better. Find out more about the early signs of MS here. Scientists do not really know what causes MS, but risk factors include:.

Genetic factors: Susceptibility may pass down in the genes, but scientists believe an environmental trigger is also necessary for MS to develop, even in people with specific genetic features.

Smoking: People who smoke appear to be more likely to develop MS. They also tend to have more lesions and brain shrinkage than non-smokers. Other viruses that may play a role include human herpes virus type 6 HHV6 and mycoplasma pneumonia. Vitamin D deficiency: MS is more common among people who have less exposure to bright sunlight, which is necessary for the body to create vitamin D.

Some experts think that low levels of vitamin D may affect the way the immune system works. Vitamin B12 deficiency: The body uses vitamin B when it produces myelin.

A lack of this vitamin may increase the risk of neurological diseases such as MS. Previous theories have included exposure to canine distemper, physical trauma, or aspartame, an artificial sweetener, but there is no evidence to support these. How does MS affect women? Click here to find out more. No single test can confirm a diagnosis, so a doctor will use several strategies when deciding whether a person meets the criteria for a diagnosis.

If the doctor diagnoses MS, they will need to identify what type it is and whether it is active or not. The person may need more tests in the future to check for further changes. Learn more here about the tests for diagnosing MS. There is no cure for MS, but treatment is available that can slow the progression of the disease, reduce the number and severity of relapses, and relieve symptoms.

Some people also use complementary and alternative therapies, but research does not always confirm the usefulness of these. These work by changing the way the immune system functions. A doctor may give some of these by mouth, by injection, or as an infusion.

How often the person needs to take them and whether they can do this at home will depend on the drug. The following DMTs currently have approval :. Current guidelines recommend a person begin using these drugs when in the early stages of MS, as there is a good chance that they can slow the progression of MS, especially if the person takes them when symptoms are not yet severe.

Some drugs are more useful at specific stages. For example, a doctor may prescribe mitoxantrone at a later, more severe stage of MS. A doctor will monitor how well a drug is working, as there may be adverse effects and the same drugs do not suit everyone.

New drug options coming onto the market are proving to be safer and more effective than some existing ones. Adverse effects of immunosuppressant drugs include a higher risk of infections. Some medications may also harm the liver. If a person notices adverse effects or if their symptoms get worse, they should seek medical advice. Other drugs are useful when a person experiences a worsening of symptoms during a flare. The treatment you need will depend on the specific symptoms and difficulties you have.

Disease-modifying therapies may also help to slow or reduce the overall worsening of disability in people with a type of MS called relapsing remitting MS, and in those with a type called secondary progressive MS who have relapses. Unfortunately, there's currently no treatment that can slow the progress of a type of MS called primary progressive MS, or secondary progressive MS in the absence of relapses.

Many therapies aiming to treat progressive MS are currently being researched. If you have been diagnosed with MS, it's important to take care of your general health. Read more advice about living with MS. MS can be a challenging condition to live with, but new treatments over the past 20 years have considerably improved the quality of life of people with the condition. MS itself is rarely fatal, but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties.

The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time. These organisations offer useful advice, publications, news items about ongoing research, blogs and chatrooms.

They can be very useful if you, or someone you know, has just been diagnosed with MS. There's also the shift. Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support.

Page last reviewed: 20 December Next review due: 20 December MS is 1 of the most common causes of disability in younger adults. Information: Social care and support guide If you: need help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability care for someone regularly because they're ill, elderly or disabled, including family members Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support.