Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
Dr. Vikas Varma MD is a top Neurologist with Sadhna Wellness Center in Jericho, NY. With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to his specialty, Dr. Vikas Varma MD is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through his designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. Vikas Varma... more
Though care and understanding of multiple sclerosis has advanced, it’s still a widely misunderstood disease and therefore can be misdiagnosed or undiscovered for a number of years.
Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disease that affects how the brain communicates with itself and the rest of the body. In many cases, it’s disabling, and can lead to paralysis and blindness. Diagnosis typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 50, and in more women than men.
As with many neurological diseases, there is no cure and scientists are not sure about the cause or what triggers its occurrence.
More specifically, multiple sclerosis affects the myelin, or the fatty substance that surrounds the body’s nerve fibers. Disruption of the myelin or nerve fibers’ processes may lead to physical symptoms such as numbness, tingling, fatigue, difficulty walking, vision difficulties, weakness, and bladder problems, among many others. These symptoms vary in frequency and severity depending on the person’s unique condition.
There are four different types of MS, each with its own course of progression.
- Clinically isolated syndrome: People who experience this may or may not go on to experience MS. It is characterized by neurologic symptoms whose causes are CNS inflammation and demyelination.
- Relapsing-remitting MS, or RRMS: This is the most common type and the most common diagnosis. It’s characterized by symptom flareups followed by periods of remission.
- Secondary progressive MS, or SPMS: This type can display with periods of relapses initially, but most people will experience worsened neurological symptoms over time, potentially leading to disability.
- Primary progressive MS, or PPMS: This type occurs without remission or relapses, and is characterized by worsening neurological functioning, potentially leading to disability.
There are many different approaches to treating MS, including medication, rehabilitations, and different types of non-invasive therapies, including functional neurology. Managing multiple sclerosis is a lifelong commitment once the patient is diagnosed, but with the right healthcare team, improving quality of life is indeed possible.
