What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. When you have MS, your immune system attacks the protective covering of your nerve fibers, called the myelin sheath. This causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
Most people with MS experience a relapse-remitting course of the disease. A relapse is a period of new symptoms for several days or weeks. Periods of disease remission, which involve little to no symptoms, usually follow relapses. Remission can last for months or years.
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms, affecting about 80% of people with MS. This fatigue can be debilitating, preventing you from working and completing everyday tasks.
Other signs and symptoms of MS include:
- Tremor, unsteady gait, or lack of coordination
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Muscle weakness and stiffness
- Painful muscle spasms
- Blurred vision, seeing double, or vision loss
- Bladder control problems
- Persistent dizziness
- Mood changes, such as depression and euphoria
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Signs and symptoms of MS can vary widely from person to person. Additionally, one person may experience changes in symptom severity over the course of years, months, or even days.
How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
First, the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles team performs a neurological exam and reviews your medical history. They may order a series of tests to determine if you have MS, such as:
- Blood tests
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
- Evoked potential tests
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
To diagnose MS, they need to find evidence of damage to the myelin sheath that occurs in more than one part of your central nervous system.
How is multiple sclerosis treated?
There’s no cure for MS, but the team at the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles offers treatments that may slow the progression of the disease and provide relief from symptoms.
Depending on your needs, treatment for MS may include a variety of medications, such as:
- Self-injectable medications, like beta interferons
- Oral medications, such as fingolimod
- Intravenous infusion treatments, such as ocrelizumab
- Medications to treat specific symptoms, like depression
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Stress relief techniques like yoga
- Eating a balanced diet
- Getting mild-to-moderate exercise
Your neurologist may also recommend deep brain stimulation to treat tremors.
For high-quality care of multiple sclerosis, call the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles, or book an appointment online today.
