The disease is known to be largely unpredictable in nature. It can persist in a benign form or can cause partial disabilities in certain isolated cases. In certain rare cases, the consequences could be potentially devastating as well. In its worst form, it disrupts the communication between the brain and the other parts of the body. In order to understand the disease better, it's important to know about the patterns in which it is likely to occur. Early symptoms should also be studied closely for being able to administer timely treatment.
Multiple Sclerosis: Visible Forms
Some of the forms in which MS can occur in individuals would include:
- Relapsing—Remitting: In this case, the symptoms of MS might appear for the some initial days or weeks. Subsequently, these might disappear for weeks or months and might relapse in some cases.
- Primary—Progressive: In rare cases, the symptoms of MS might continue to worsen since appearing for the first time.
- Secondary—Progressive: This is one of the more common patterns. It starts by following the course of the Relapsing -Remitting pattern and goes on to the Primary- Progressive one.
- Progressive—Relapsing: This is one of the most severe forms. During this course, the condition continues to worsen over time accompanied by serious attacks.
There could be another prevalent condition apart from the above ones. It is a combination of the Progressive-Relapsing, Primary-Progressive and the Secondary-Progressive pattern. This condition is termed as chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis: Early Symptoms
Coming to terms with the early symptoms of multiple sclerosis is important for early detection. Some of the symptoms which might warrant an immediate medical evaluation include:
- Muscle weakness is one of the most prominent symptoms of MS.
- Patients suffering from MS attacks might also experience numbness and tingling in the hands and legs.
- Loss of physical balance is another distinct representative symptom of Multiple Sclerosis.
- Pain in the eyes could be another symptom.
- Most often patients might also suffer from blurred or double vision.
However, diagnosing the presence of Multiple Sclerosis on the basis of the symptoms exhibited can be a difficult feat. The intensity and duration of persistence of symptoms would depend on which part of the nervous system has been affected. Moreover, these symptoms are largely episodic. They would come and go in phases, depending on the pattern of MS one is suffering from. The spell during which all these symptoms occur in unison is termed as an attack of Multiple Sclerosis. However, it's best to seek medical advice at the slightest doubt.
Multiple Sclerosis: Treatments
Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis would vary as per the intensity of the disease. Some probabilities would include occupational therapy, medicinal intervention as well as emotional support. Medication is administered either to manage the acute flare ups or to modify the disease itself. The main aim of the latter is to delay the progression of the disease. They achieve this by either altering or suppressing the activity of the immune system.
If detected early, total or partial remission of the disease is possible in almost 70% patients who have been inflicted with this disease.