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Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis. This disease attacks the white matter tissue of the Central Nervous System. The central Nervous system is the brain and the spinal cord. The white matter is the nerve fibers that communicate with the brain and spinal cord to other nerves that supply the body. Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory disease, as well.

Most of the time, people with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) have patches of lesions of plaques that appear in different areas of the central nervous system white matter. This disease can be very different for each person just as our own personalities are different. Even when a person has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis the severity, location, and timing of the disease can be very diverse.

Types

• Benign Multiple Sclerosis
• Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
• Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
• Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
• Malignant Multiple Sclerosis
• Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Causes

• Autoimmunity – an immune reaction in one’s body
• Pathogen Mediated – cell poisoning
• Genetic Workings
• Damage to the blood-brain-barrier
• Occurrences before birth
• Lack of certain vitamins
• Diet

Even though you can read all kinds of causes for Multiple Sclerosis, no one has been able to put their finger on the exact reasons one person contracts the disease while another does not.

The most accepted theory is that Multiple Sclerosis occurs when a person that has a genetic vulnerability is exposed to some toxin or virus. According to the location of the lesions, the symptoms can vary:

Symptoms by Location:

Cerebrum and Cerebellum

• Balance problems
• Speech problems
• Coordination
• Tremors

Motor Nerve Tract

• Weak muscles
• Vision Problems
• Bladder Problems
• Bowel Problems
• Spasticity paralysis

Sensory Nerve Tract

• Numbness
• Burning feelings
• Altered feelings

Overall Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Sensory problems
• Tremors
• Depression
• Problems with balance
• Problems with coordination
• Spasticity
• Bladder problems
• Bowel problems
• Loss of memory, reasoning, verbal fluency and speed of information processing
• Loss of vision
• Sexual problems

Treatment

There are two major treatments involved in treating Multiple Sclerosis one that deals with the management of the symptoms and the other that treats the disease by controlling the number of attacks and their severity.

The main medications that are given at this time are Rebif ®, Avonex®, and Betaseron®, which are interferon-beta products and two others including Novantrone®, and Copaxone®. The FDA for controlling the number of attacks and their severity has approved all of these medications.

Steroids have also been used in some cases for the swelling and inflammation of the Multiple Sclerosis lesions. Some of the most popular steroids that are given include betamethasone, dexamethasone, prednisolone, and methylprednisolone.