Multiple sclerosis affects each person in a different way. Neurological symptoms that resemble multiple sclerosis also serve as the basis for diagnosing other chronic conditions. Outright nerve damage usually leads to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Neurological symptoms of multiple sclerosis tend to appear between the ages of 20 and 40, although some people do not know they have it. Early symptoms may come and go, thus these symptoms remain untreated. It is for this reason that multiple sclerosis is a "rule in" diagnosis. The neurological symptoms are common to other chronic illnesses that need to be "ruled out" first.
Unrecognized Early Symptoms
These early symptoms include tingling and numbness, which are the "pins and needles" effect. These are neurological in nature as they usually result from pressure on a nerve. Loss of balance is another very early symptom that is also common to ear infections, inner ear disorders or alcohol withdrawal---to name just a few issues that interfere with diagnosis.
Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve that causes blurred or double vision. In the majority of cases, this defining neurological symptom leads to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Causes of Neurological Symptoms
There is a protective cover over the nerve fibers in the brain. These fibers transmit messages to other parts of the body from the brain and use the spinal cord fluid as the main method of transportation.
Myelin is that protective sheath. Damage and the ultimate deterioration of myelin cause the appearance of neurological symptoms. Affected regions of the brain make a huge difference with the frequency and severity of neurological symptoms. These areas show up on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pictures as white spots (lesions).
The location of lesions help to "map" affected areas where messages cannot get through or the distortion of signals causes mixed messages. Thus, the MRI helps to identify the origin of the damage causing those neurological symptoms that resemble multiple sclerosis.
Neurological Symptoms and Diagnosis
No one knows the exact cause of multiple sclerosis. Theories include the influence of geography, smoking and genes. Vaccines are "ruled out" based on extensive studies. Researchers generally agree that multiple sclerosis might be an autoimmune disease similar to fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and others. The body has infection-fighters that become overactive causing damage to organs, muscles and nerves. This is the reason that patients initially may receive the diagnosis of an illness that resembles multiple sclerosis.
Over time, other symptoms emerge complicating the speed of a definite diagnosis. These additional neurological symptoms include muscle spasms, heat/cold sensitivity, fatigue and changes in perception and cognitive thinking. Following the emergence of those symptoms, a patient may slowly experience speech and swallowing problems, tremors, difficulty walking, spasticity and more.
Common Form of Multiple Sclerosis
Two individuals rarely present with identical symptoms. Doctors and scientists use sub-groupings to predict the severity and anticipated outcome of treatment. The majority of the MS population (90 percent) have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Their relapses remit with complete or partial return to normal.
There are a variety of symptoms, diverse patterns of affected nerves, duration of the relapse, amount of achieved recovery and the length of time between relapses. After many years of treatment, most people with RRMS will transition to a secondary progressive phase.
Several treatments are available to slow progression of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Secondary-progressive is unresponsive to most treatments. It also creates a difficult lifestyle. People with SPMS will experience disability.
The Three Progressives
Each of the progressive forms of multiple sclerosis has its own unique neurological, physical and disabling degree of decline with some overlapping. A person's age at diagnosis is a contributing factor. The individual experiencing partial recovery from relapses will transition to secondary-progressive much faster.
The three progressive forms include:
Primary-progressive multiple sclerosis affects about 12 percent of people 40 years old or more with multiple sclerosis. These patients tend to develop disability much more quickly as treatments are not dependable.
Progressive-relapsing multiple sclerosis is rare. Relapses happen sporadically and relief rarely means this person returns to normal.
Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis follows many years of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. There is less inflammation but more nerve degeneration.
Tags: multiple sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, relapsing-remitting multiple, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, diagnosis multiple