Managing Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic neurological condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It is an autoimmune disorder that is characterised by the immune system degrading the myelin sheaths that insulate the neurons in the CNS. These myelin sheaths serve as both a protective layer, as well as a means to ensure quick and efficient transmission of electrochemical signals that are responsible for information transfer in the body.
Symptoms of the condition can vary wildly depending on the extent of the damage to the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers. MS can cause inflammation and lesions that are temporary, as well as lesions that are longlasting due to excessive scar tissue forming around them, resulting in long term loss of communication between the CNS and peripheral nervous system.
Though there are no known cures for MS, there are certain things that can be done to reduce the severity of symptoms, which we will get to later in this article.
Before that, we must say that there is no substitute for a proper physician, so if you’re experiencing any neurological symptoms, we recommend you seek professional help. These Best Neurologist in Lahore are great options if you live in that city.
Symptoms
As we’ve said before, symptoms of MS vary from person to person, but it must also be known that the symptoms that one person may experience may not be the same during their day-to-day life, and may change altogether after a significant amount of time. Nevertheless, we can list down some of the most prevalent symptoms that are common among patients with MS. These include:
Fatigue
Fatigue is believed to plague about 80% of all MS patients, impeding one from doing everyday tasks.
Issues with Mobility
People with MS may find it progressively difficult to walk properly and maintain balance. This may be worsened by recurrent muscle spasms and general weakness in their legs, and numbness in their feet.
Issues with Speech
Certain lesions caused by MS may affect the speech center of the brain, causing what is known as dysarthria. Dysarthria is characterised by slurred speech, difficulty in maintaining tone or volume, and difficulty in maintaining a consistent sentence without intermittent pauses.
Other Symptoms
Some other symptoms that are known to occur include chronic pain in certain parts of the body, tremors, issues with cognition (like concentration and memory), difficulty in controlling one’s bladder, difficulty sleeping, and electric-shock sensations occurring with certain movements of the neck.
You may also experience issues with vision that include double vision, nystagmus, and loss of vision. These issues may affect both, or just one of your eyes, and may progressively get worse or simply resolve themselves without treatment.
Treatment
Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs)
This has been shown to slow down the progression of MS. Many of these can be self-injected and include glatiramer acetate and beta interferons like Avonex, Betaseron and Rebif.
Kesimpta is a recent medication that has been vetted which is a monoclonal antibody medication that can be administered by the patient themselves.
Certain oral medications that treat MS include dimethyl fumarate, cladribine, and siponimod.
There are also intravenous medications one can take, which include alemtuzumab, natalizumab, and mitoxantrone.
You may also be prescribed corticosteroids, like methylprednisolone, by your physician in order to treat relapses.
It must be understood that these drugs should not be taken without a proper prescription and the supervision of a professional. Therefore, we highly recommend consulting a physician before you decide to self-medicate. These Best Neurologist in Islamabad are great options for those residing in that region.
