If ever there was a prize for the condition that wreaks the most havoc within the human body and mind, it would go to Multiple Sclerosis hands down…unpredictable and disabling! This debilitating condition has been baffling the medical world for more than a century. According to medical science there is no cure for MS and a minuscule understanding as to what causes this condition.MS affects the brain and spinal cord, a disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease.
Many investigators believe MS to be an autoimmune disease – one in which the body, through its immune system, launches a defensive attack against its own tissues. Why this happens is the million dollar question! In MS the body’s own immune system attacks the myelin sheath which wraps around your nerve fibers to protect them. Without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged. Scar tissue may form. MS is a disorder of the central nervous system marked by weakness, numbness, a loss of muscle coordination, extreme fatigue and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control. Most people with MS have attacks, also called relapses, when the condition gets noticeably worse. They’re usually followed by times of recovery when symptoms improve. For other people, the disease continues to get worse over time.
Most MS patients experience muscle weakness in their extremities and difficulty with coordination and balance. These symptoms may be severe enough to impair walking or even standing. The damage means your brain can’t send signals through your body correctly. Your nerves also don’t work as they should to help you move and feel. As a result, you may have symptoms like:Trouble walking; Fatigue and severe exhaustion; Muscle weakness or spasms; Blurred or double vision; Numbness and tingling; Sexual problems; Poor bladder or bowel control; Debilitating Pain; Relentless nausea; Severe Depression and mood swings; Problems focusing or remembering. Some MS patients experience all the above symptoms at the same time!
MS is also referred to as the “Silent Disease”. The patient looks so normal yet is suffering through so many symptoms. Depression in its various forms is one of the most common and challenging symptoms of multiple sclerosis. In fact, studies have suggested that clinical depression—the most severe form—is more frequent among people with MS than it is in the general population or in many other chronic illnesses. MS patients need to realise that depression does not indicate weakness of character and should not be considered something shameful that needs to be hidden.MS fatigue is one of the most difficult “silent” symptoms to explain and deal with. 80% of all MS patients deal with this at some point or another. MS Fatigue is way past a feeling of tired – it is to the point of absolute exhaustion. It’s the feeling that each limb is 100 kgs heavier than it is! Just walking the few steps to a bathroom is daunting and overwhelming.
Extreme heat and every form of stress makes the condition worse. Surrounding an MS patient with love, respect and understanding ignites healing. One should respect how a MS patient feels free of judgement. The MS symptoms can become severe at any time of the day. MS patients need the support and encouragement of their family, friends, colleagues and community to manage and cope with this devastating condition.