Symptoms and Treatments of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a situation which can distress the brain and/or spinal cord, causing a ample range of possible symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. The cause of MS is still unidentified – scientists believe the disease is triggered by as-yet-unidentified environmental factor in a person who is genetically predisposed to respond. The development, severity and particular symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted. The majority people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease.

It’s a lifelong situation that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can intermittently be mild. In many cases, it’s feasible to treat symptoms. Average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people with MS. It’s expected that there are more than 100,000 people diagnosed with MS in the UK. It’s most generally diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, although it can develop at any age. It’s about two to three times further common in women than men.

Symptoms of Multiple sclerosis

The symptoms of MS differ generally from person to person and can affect any part of the body.

The main symptoms include:

  • fatigue
  • difficulty walking
  • vision problems, such as blurred vision
  • problems controlling the bladder
  • numbness or tingling in different parts of the body
  • muscle stiffness and spasms
  • problems with balance and co-ordination
  • problems with thinking, learning and planning


Multiple sclerosis (MS) facts


Although the exact cause is unknown, multiple sclerosis is measured to be an autoimmune disease.

Risk factors for the disease include being between 15-60 years of age; women have about two to three times the risk for numerous sclerosis than men.

What causes Multiple sclerosis?

MS is an autoimmune situation. This is when something goes wrong with the immune system and it misguidedly attacks a healthy part of the body – in this case, the brain or spinal cord of the nervous system.


  • Infectious Factors

Since early exposure to numerous viruses, bacteria and other microbes occurs during childhood, and since viruses are well-recognized as causes of demyelination and inflammation, it is probable that a virus or other infectious agent is the triggering factor in MS. More than a dozen viruses and bacteria — including measles, canine distemper, human herpes virus-6, Epstein-Barr, and Chlamydia pneumonia — have been or are being investigated to determine if they are involved in the development of MS, but none have been definitively proven to trigger MS.

  • Genetic Factors

While MS is not genetic, having a first-degree relative such as a parent or sibling with MS does extensively increase an individual’s risk of developing the disease. Studies have shown that there is a higher incidence of definite genes in populations with higher rates of MS. General genetic factors has also been found in some families where there is more than one person with MS. Some researchers theorize that MS develops because a person is born with a genetic predisposition to react to several environmental agent that, upon exposure, triggers an immune-mediated response. Sophisticated new techniques for identifying genes are helping to answer questions about the role of genes in the development of MS.


Treatments for Multiple sclerosis


The treatment you will need depend on the exact symptoms and difficulties you have. It may include:

  • specific treatments for individual MS symptoms

Physical therapy. A physical or occupational therapist can teach you stretching and strengthening exercises and show you how to use devices to make it easier to perform daily tasks. Physical therapy along with the use of a mobility aid when necessary can also help manage leg weakness and other gait problems often associated with MS.



