Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease that primarily affects
the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system of the body –
CNS). In later stages of the disease, multiple sclerosis can involve
virtually any innervated section of the body (body parts which contain
structures of agglomerated nerve terminations). By affecting the nerve
fibers which have the role to transmit signals between the central
nervous system and all the innervated organs, multiple sclerosis can
cause a multitude of impairments at various levels of the body. When
multiple sclerosis involves more parts of the body, the generated
symptoms greatly vary in terms of type and intensity, rendering the
process of diagnosing the disease very problematic.
Although the progression of multiple sclerosis can be efficiently
controlled and its produced symptoms can be alleviated, the already
existent damage can’t be reversed with medical treatments. Thus, the
speed and accuracy of diagnosis play crucial roles in preventing the
development of further complications and also increase the efficiency
of the specific medication treatments.
All the undesirable effects produced by multiple sclerosis occur due to
destruction of myelin, a substance that surrounds the cells of the
nervous system. The main role of myelin is to facilitate the
transmission of nerve signals at the level of central nervous system
and between the CNS and all the other nerves spread throughout the
body. Myelin also has the role to protect nerve cells, forming a
coating that surrounds their surface. In most cases, the destruction of
myelin characteristic to multiple sclerosis takes place fast and
generates a wide range of dysfunctions of the nervous system. The
process of myelin destruction is irreversible and most existing medical
treatments can only slow down this process, being unable to stop it.
Due to the fact that multiple sclerosis can cause a multitude of
dysfunctions in various sections of the body, the type, intensity and
duration of symptoms differ from a patient to another. Patients with
multiple sclerosis may experience numbness, tingling or pain in the
muscles, muscular weakness and fatigue, muscular spasms, decreased
visual acuity, blurred and double vision, frequent urination,
constipation, decreased sexual function, poor balance, nausea,
short-term memory loss, decreased judgment, poor concentration, and so
on. The list of multiple sclerosis symptoms is very long and such
manifestations may either occur together or separately, depending on
the levels of the nervous system which are affected by the disease.
The good news is that patients with multiple sclerosis who receive the
adequate medical treatment can regain control of their bodies and live
active, normal lives. Although they can’t reverse the already existing
nerve damage nor completely cure the disease, most multiple sclerosis
treatments can substantially alleviate symptoms and prevent the
occurrence of severe complications.
