Secondary progressive MS
Many people who are initially diagnosed with relapsing/remitting MS find that over time the frequency of relapses decreases but disability increases. This is known as secondary progressive MS. As with relapsing/remitting MS, people’s experience of secondary progressive MS can vary widely. Some people find that the increase or progression of disability is very gradual, whilst for others it can occur more quickly. Frequency of relapses decreases but disability increasesStudies that have monitored people with MS over a long period of time suggest that after ten years, half those people who were diagnosed with relapsing/remitting MS will have developed secondary progressive MS.
Primary progressive MS
About 10% of people with MS are diagnosed with a form in which disability increases from the outset. This is known as primary progressive MS (or less commonly, chronic progressive MS). Again, there is a variety of experience of primary progressive MS. Some people can have a persistent increase in disability whilst others may experience plateaux or a more gentle worsening of symptoms. become progressively worse without remissionSome people whose MS has been progressive from onset will also experience occasional relapses. Some textbooks refer to this sub type as relapsing progressive MS.
(published with permission in writing from:ttp://www.mstrust.org.uk)


