Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Strides have been made in the last few decades but, because symptoms can be different from person to person and its not known what causes MS, a lot of the disease is still clouded in mystery.

Jennifer Block of Houston is one of those faces of the disease.

Block is a mother of 20-month-old twins, and is a pre-school teacher. Originally from Oklahoma City, she discovered she was diagnosed with MS as a newlywed with her husband David in early 2012.

"I went to the doctor for back pain. They did an MRI and found active lesions on my back. I was teaching middle school at the time when I got the call that they thought it was MS. You don't forget," Block said.

Block and her husband, who is a native Houstonian, had been toying with the idea of moving to Houston, and the MS diagnosis was the push they needed, partially because of the available health care.

According to Dr. Leorah Freeman, a neurologist at McGovern Medical School at UT Health, and Block's doctor, the disease usually affects people between the ages of 20 and 40.

According to, the immune system attacks myelin, the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers - as well as the nerve fibers themselves. The damaged myelin forms scar tissue (sclerosis).

It can manifest as relapsing deficits, which could mean multiple things such as fatigue, numbness, loss of balance, lost of vision, among other symptoms. Some people can recover from these, but others could experience more permanent deficits. As the immune system gets weaker, this can lead to the formation of lesions that can occur anywhere in the brain, optic nerve or spinal cord.

"There was a recent study that found that while we believe there was 400,000 in the U.S. living with MS, our most recent numbers are closer to one million. It is the leading cause of disability," Freeman said.

According to Freeman, major progress has been made in the last couple of decades in the diagnosis process. It used to take anywhere from 5-10 years, but now, with help of MRI and diagnostic criteria, it can be diagnosed with initial symptoms.

Block's MS symptoms are in remission most of the time, but when they emerge, they are mostly in her hands and feet.

"My hands don't work properly, which can be more frustrating than anything. I can't grip something as tightly as I want to. I also have a sensitivity to extreme heat and cold," Block explained.

Block also noted that there are times when her body will become paralyzed for about 30 seconds, which can be scary.

Because MS is different for everyone, Block said that, sometimes she doesn't know if something is a symptom of MS or not, so she just tries to be careful and take care of herself.

"One of the first questions when they diagnose you is, 'How is your balance, memory and eyesight?' Well, I have worn glasses since I was a kid, I am clumsy and my memory is bad. I can never tell if I am just tired because of the twins or if my MS is acting up."

When she and her husband moved to Houston, they bought a single-story house because she was aware of the fact that one day she could be in a wheelchair.

"I want to stay as mentally and physically in shape as much as I can. I don't want to have to worry about not being able to go upstairs to tuck my kids in bed in 10 years," Block said.

Freeman stresses the importance of brain health for patients with MS.

"Medications are a piece of the puzzle and a critical one, but it is essential for people with MS to know what they can do for their brain health, such as not smoking, eating healthy, and most importantly engaging in physical activity," Freeman said.

Freeman notes that one of the biggest misconceptions of MS is that people with the disease cannot live full and happy lives. Therapy and emerging medicines have brought better outcomes. Block is living proof of that.

A new medicine called OCREVUS came out last March, which is an antibody that bonds to B cells which is a type of white blood cell. It has been shown to not only prevent relapses, but also it has shown for the first time that it can slow the progression of disability. Block is on this medicine, which is an infusion that is given every six months.

"The medicine is amazing," Block said. "I just went in December and I go again in June. I am lucky. I like to forget that I have MS until something happens, or until it's time for the infusion."

"She is an example of someone who has done well with her treatments, but she can still relate to a lot of other patients as well. A lot of people automatically think of someone with MS as in a wheelchair, and I think that can make people with MS feel misunderstood," Freeman said.

"It's not necessarily a death sentence. I hate the pity look. I hate telling people that I have MS. Every person's diagnosis is different," Block said.

According to Freeman, it is important that MS patients have the support of the community, their families and doctors.

"This all helps and allows them to push through their diagnosis and live their best lives," Freeman said.

When Block was initially diagnosed back in Oklahoma City, she remembered how important it was that the assistant principal of her middle school, and the school secretary's daughter, both had MS.

"I could talk to people about it and there was no stigma," Block said.

Block added, "I was a newlywed when it happened. There was some trying times. He knew what we were getting into and he was by my side the whole time, and our parents were too."

Freeman notes that as of yet, there is no cure, but she believes that they are at a critical and exciting time, noting new advances. Therapies are starting to target not only inflammation, but are also repairing neural cells. There have also been strives in prescribing more personal medications to target individual patients.

"We need to understand the disease better. We used to see the lesions as the hallmark of the disease but now we know that there is much more going on elsewhere too," Freeman said.

"I hope that, in the future, everyone is able to have my type of MS. They call it the snowflake disease because no two people are alike. I hope more of that can be figured out," Block said.

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