April 29, 2021 by Patricia Silva, PhD Rare Symptoms of MS: 12 Things to Know About Trigeminal Neuralgia Trigeminal neuralgia is a term used for facial pain associated with damage to the trigeminal nerve, or the 5th cranial nerve ā the largest one among the body’s 12 pairs of cranial nerves and one of the most widely distributed nerves in the head. Usually occurring in people older…
April 28, 2021 by Patricia Silva, PhD 7 Strange and Unusual Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that is unique to each patient, meaning that no two people experience the exact same disease manifestations. While there are common symptoms that many MS patients share, such as pain and chronic fatigue, some may experience more unusual symptoms. Seven of…
March 4, 2020 by Vaidyanathan Subramaniam Should I Worry More About Coronavirus if I Have MS? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorderĀ caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the myelin sheath, the protective covering of nerve fibers. This disrupts the conduction of electrical impulses between the brain and the body, causingĀ symptomsĀ that range from muscle spasms and spasticity to fatigue and pain.
January 16, 2020 by Emily Malcolm Could My Child Have MS? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating that surrounds nerve fibers and helps them function. Damage to this protective coating, called myelin, means the nerve fibers are fragile and easily damaged. MS in children, or pediatric MS, is…
November 27, 2019 by Emily Malcolm Fasting and MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the protein coating that protects nerve fibers from damage. It is unknown what triggers the immune system’s attack, but many MS treatments are targeted at reducing inflammation to curb the activity of the immune system.
November 4, 2019 by Vaidyanathan Subramaniam Emotional Disturbances and SPMS About 65% of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)Ā will progress to a second stage of the disease called secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). People with SPMS often have a variety of symptoms that can lead to a roller coaster of emotional changes. Here are some ways to…
November 1, 2019 by Vaidyanathan Subramaniam Unusual Symptoms of SPMS Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) is a stage of multiple sclerosis (MS) that followsĀ relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Not all RRMS patients will progress to SPMS, but those who do usually do so around 15 years into their disease. Neurological examinations are necessary to confirm a transition to…
October 31, 2019 by Emily Malcolm CBD and Multiple Sclerosis: What You Need to Know Topics related to the use and effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD) and medical marijuana are of increasing interest to many people, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). A web-based survey hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, with results published in 2017, indicated that as many as…
October 23, 2019 by Emily Malcolm Is SPMS Going to Affect My Life Expectancy? Receiving a diagnosis ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive neurological disorder, can be frightening. One of the first things patients ask is ā what does this mean for me? Will my life expectancy drop with this diagnosis? What is life expectancy? Life expectancy is a “best guess” of…
October 22, 2019 by Emily Malcolm SPMS and Diet: What Foods Can Help? ManyĀ treatmentsĀ for multiple sclerosis (MS) are targeted at reducing inflammation, thereby slowing progression of the autoimmune disease. An anti-inflammatory diet also may slow disease progression, as well as enhance the positive effects of anti-inflammatory medications. In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the protein coat that surrounds nerve…