multiple sclerosis
MS, pregnancy and parenthood
Multiple sclerosis is a very variable condition of the central nervous system, with the first symptoms usually occurring in young adulthood. At this time many people are embarking on a career, establishing long- term relationships and decidi...read more
MS: a little bit of explanation
MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves. Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibers of the CNS is a fatty tissue called myelin...read more
MS: Causes, incidence and risk factors
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually affects woman more than men. The disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 and 40, but can strike at any age....read more
Ms: diagnostic process
Neurological examination A neurological examination can reveal the location of lesions in the brain and spinal cord. A physician, usually a neurologist, will perform a general physical exam that examines all the body's systems, including heart, lungs, abdom...read more
Multiple sclerosis: general information
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic (long-term) diseases of the central nervous system.Nerve fibres are covered with a fatty substance called the myelin sheath. The myelin, as well as protecting the nerves, assists the passage of messag...read more
Multiple sclerosis: what is it?
In multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disorder, the body's immune system attacks the nervous system. As a result, nerves in the brain and spinal cord become damaged, causing a wide range of symptoms that affect sensation, movement, body functions and bal...read more
Options to treat MS
Treatment options There are now 6 disease-modifying medications approved for use in relapsing forms of MS by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). None of them is a cure for MS. None will prevent pre-existing recurring symptoms, such as fatigue or numbness, which typic...read more
Oxygen therapy for people with MS
Oxygen is essential to every one of the tissues in the body and any tissue injury requires oxygen for healing. Recent research at the University of Dundee has shown that, in the inflammation that is typical of MS, the transport of oxygen is severely limited ...read more
Physiotherapy and Multiple Sclerosis
Both research and a wealth of 'user' experience show that physiotherapy has a vital role in containing the effects of MS. At Therapy Centres professionally qualified physiotherapists specialising in the treatment of MS provide both individual and group remed...read more
Psychotherapy's value in MS
Physiotherapy is a health care profession concerned with human function and movement and maximising potential: it uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being, taking account of variations in ...read more
Risks of developing MS
In the general population in the UK, the risk of developing MS is about 1 in 700. Studies have shown that the risk is higher for people who already have someone with MS in their family. On average, the risk for first degree relatives (parents, children, siblings) of someone with MS is about ...read more
Side effects of steroids: relapses
Flare-ups, also known as relapses, are most commonly treated with a short course of steroid therapy. Flare-ups are caused by swelling and inflammation around myelin plaques. These drugs are synthetic versions of a hormone (cortisone) produced by the body tha...read more
Signs and symptoms of ms
When a person with multiple sclerosis (MS) experiences new symptoms, or has a recurrence of old ones lasting more than 24 hours, he or she is experiencing an exacerbation, or attack. These symptoms vary from person to person and from time to time in the same person. No two p...read more
Stress and MS
Having any chronic illness increases stress. MS is no exception. In fact, there are many stressful situations that are common with MS: Diagnostic uncertainties (before the definite MS diagnosis) The unpredictability of MS The invisibility of the ...read more
Symptoms and treatment of MS
Key facts No two people with MS experience the same symptoms to the same degree. MS can cause a wide variety of symptoms, but most people with the condition only experience a small number of these. Symptoms can come and go. They can occur at any time and...read more
Symptoms of MS: Spasm
Spasticity can be described as stiff muscles that resist passive movement. It is part of the upper motor neurone syndrome, which is damage to the nerves in the central nervous system that are carrying messages instructing muscles how to move. This can either lead to a lack o...read more
The demographics of multiple sclerosis
The dictionary defines Demographics as the adjective form of Demography - the study of the statistics of births, deaths, diseases, etc. So while the demographics of multiple sclerosis doesn't cover births and deaths it does cover the spread of the condition. Did you know tha...read more
The immune system and MS
To understand what is happening when a person has MS, it is first necessary to know a little about how the healthy immune system works. The immune system - a complex network of specialized cells and organs - defends the body against attacks by "foreign" invaders su...read more
The importance of a healthy diet for ms patients
The importance of a healthy diet cannot be overemphasized, especially in people dealing with a chronic, energy-taxing, debilitating disease. People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are faced with many physical and emotional obstacles that may hamper properread more
The importance of early treatment
When should you begin treatment with a multiple sclerosis disease–modifying therapy? Guidelines from the National MS Society recommend that “treatment should be considered as soon as possible following a definite diagnosis of MS with active diseaseread more
Tips on managing side effects of drugs
Flu-like Symptoms Flu-like symptoms, such as headache, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and chills, are the most common side effects of interferon therapy. They usually resolve after a few months of treatment. Starting therapy using a low dose and gradually increasing the dose may help minimiz...read more
Treatments and prognosis for Multiple Sclerosis
What is Multiple Sclerosis? An unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, multiple sclerosis (MS) can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating, as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted. Many investigator...read more
Treatments for MS: Steroids
Corticosteroids (steroids) are the standard treatment for a relapse in MS and have been in use for about 50 years. How steroids work It is still unclear exactly how steroids work but they probably act by partly suppressing the immune systemread more
Types of pain assoiciated with multiple sclerosis
Trigeminal neuralgia xcruciating, sharp, shock-like pain in cheek and forehead that can be triggered by speaking, touch, or facial movements, usually lasting seconds to several minutes but sometimes repeated throughout the day; involves trigeminal nerve in the jaw, cheek, a...read more
What causes ms?
The exact cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is unknown. While many theories have been proposed, most researchers believe that MS is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic Factors Although people do not inherit the disease (that is, pass it dow...read more
