Vision problems are often some of the first symptoms for many people with MS. Vision problems may affect one or both eyes. These issues may come and go, or get worse over time. They can also resolve entirely. MS causes lesions in the brain that can affect speech.
These speech issues, also known as dysarthria, can range from mild to severe. Learn more about the symptoms of MS. A healthcare professional, often a neurologist, will need to perform a neurological exam. They will also talk with you about your clinical history and order a series of other tests to determine if you have MS. An MS diagnosis requires evidence of demyelination occurring at different times in more than one area of your brain, spinal cord, or optic nerves.
Demyelination is a process that prevents nerves from efficiently sending signals. A diagnosis also requires ruling out other conditions that have similar symptoms. Learn more about the tests used to diagnose MS. CIS is a pre-MS condition involving 1 episode of symptoms lasting at least 24 hours. These symptoms are due to demyelination in your CNS.
If you have primary progressive MS PPMS , neurological function becomes progressively worse from the onset of your symptoms. However, short periods of stability can occur. You may still have noticeable relapses in addition to disability or gradual worsening of function. You can only have one type of MS at a time, but knowing when you transition to a progressive form of MS may be difficult to pinpoint.
Find out more about the different types of MS. No cure is currently available for MS, but treatment options exist that can help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. DMTs are designed to slow the progression of MS and lower your relapse rate. Self-injectable disease-modifying medications for RRMS include glatiramer acetate Copaxone and beta interferons, such as:. In the FDA approved Kesimpta for treatment. Kesimpta is a monoclonal antibody treatment that can be self-administered.
Not all MS medications will be available or appropriate for every person. Talk with your doctor about which drugs are most appropriate for you and the risks and benefits of each one. Other treatments may also be targeted at easing specific symptoms to help improve your quality of life.
Because MS is different for everyone, treatment depends on your specific symptoms. For most, a flexible approach is necessary. Get more information on treatments for MS. If you have MS, the protective layer of myelin around some of the nerve fibers of your brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord become damaged. Researchers think there could be an environmental trigger, such as a virus or toxin, that sets off the immune system attack.
As your immune system attacks myelin, it causes demyelination. This can go into remission as new layers of myelin form, but chronic inflammation can lead to scar tissue, which can result in lasting neurological impairment. Scientists have identified some genes that seem to increase susceptibility to developing MS, according to a review of studies published in Find out more about the possible causes of MS.
About 10 to 15 percent of people with MS have only rare attacks and minimal disability 10 years after diagnosis, according to NMSS. MS is unpredictable and affects each patient differently — some individuals may be mildly affected, while others may lose their ability to write, speak or walk. There are several courses of multiple sclerosis that have been described:.
This form of multiple sclerosis is characterized by the onset of the neurological symptoms over a period of hours to days. Common symptoms of a relapse may include:. These symptoms tend to persist for days or weeks, and then disappear partially or completely on their own or with treatment. Patients may then remain symptom-free for weeks, months or even years known as remission.
Without treatment, most people with MS will develop disease symptoms that will gradually worsen over time known as relapsing. If the relapsing-remitting condition changes to a point where there are no discernable relapses and remissions; the course of the disease has transitioned to secondary progressive MS.
All those with secondary progressive MS began the disease with a relapsing-remitting disease course. In secondary progressive MS, symptoms accumulate and worsen without any remission. There may be periods where symptoms are stable, but the overall course is one of worsening over time. Often an individual will describe a change in their abilities when comparing current function to past function but without identifying an episode that led to the worsening.
Sometimes, after the onset of secondary progressive MS an individual may experience a relapse. The course would then be considered secondary progressive MS with relapses. This is referred to as primary progressive MS. Overview Multiple sclerosis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Multiple sclerosis In multiple sclerosis, the protective coating on nerve fibers myelin is damaged and may eventually be destroyed. Myelin damage and the nervous system Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Myelin damage and the nervous system In multiple sclerosis, the protective coating on nerve fibers myelin in the central nervous system is damaged. Multiple sclerosis: Can it cause seizures? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Managing depression in MS. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references What is multiple sclerosis? National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Accessed Dec.
Daroff RB, et al. Multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. In: Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. Philadelphia, Pa. Ferri FF. Multiple sclerosis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Olek MJ. Clinical presentation, course, and prognosis of multiple sclerosis in adults. Wingerchuk DM expert opinion.
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Kantarci OH, et al. Novel immunomodulatory approaches for the management of multiple sclerosis. Disease-modifying treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults. Olek MJ, et al. Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults. Wingerchuk DM. Multiple sclerosis: Current and emerging disease-modifying therapies and treatment strategies.
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