10 essential facts about multiple sclerosis
Fact-checked by Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) can bring up a lot of questions about how the condition may affect your daily life, health, and future. Having a clearer understanding of MS can make it easier to navigate its treatments, symptoms, and the lifestyle adjustments it may require.
Here are 10 essential facts about MS to help you understand the condition and find practical ways to manage it.
1. MS symptoms vary
MS symptoms can vary from person to person and may also evolve over time.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
- fatigue
- walking and balance issues
- numbness and tingling
- muscle spasms and stiffness
- pain
- vision problems
- bowel or bladder problems
People may experience only a few of these symptoms, while others may face entirely different symptom combinations. These symptoms can also shift over time with relapses or as the disease progresses.
To address this variability, personalized treatment and multidisciplinary care are often needed.
2. There is no cure, but treatments are available
While there is currently no cure for MS, there are medications that can help manage it.
MS is mainly treated with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), which can help to reduce relapse rates and disease activity on MRI scans, and slow the accumulation of disability over time.
But because MS often involves multiple symptoms, a comprehensive care plan may include other types of treatments for MS. Examples include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medications that help address specific MS symptoms.
3. Early treatment makes a difference
Starting treatment early can often lead to better long-term outcomes, so seeking a diagnosis as soon as possible is important.
Unfortunately, diagnosing MS is often challenging because its symptoms can vary and because signs can overlap with those of similar diseases. Getting a second opinion and not giving up when seeking answers can help you get a correct diagnosis and receive treatment.
4. Lifestyle plays an important role in MS treatment
Although medication is the cornerstone of managing MS, lifestyle choices can also make a big difference.
Key factors include:
- regular exercise
- a balanced diet
- enough sleep
- stress management
- avoiding smoking
Additionally, nurturing your mental health through counseling, mindfulness, and social support can help you deal with the emotional challenges of MS.
5. There is a cognitive side to MS
Researchers are increasingly recognizing the impact of cognitive issues with MS. Examples include problems with memory, attention, concentration, and decision-making.
One way to address cognitive MS symptoms is cognitive rehabilitation, which includes exercises, strategies, and tools aimed at supporting focus, organization, and independent living.
6. There is no single test for MS
It can take time to diagnose MS because there is no single MS-specific test for the disease. Doctors use multiple tools and criteria to recognize the condition.
Examples include:
- medical history
- neurologic exam
- MRI scans
- blood and urine tests
- a spinal tap
7. MS is more common in women and in some regions
Women are three times more likely to have MS than men. Researchers believe that hormonal and genetic factors may contribute to this difference.
Generally, the disease is also more common as you travel farther north or south from the equator. The prevalence is highest in North America, Europe, New Zealand, and certain parts of Australia, while countries closer to the equator have significantly lower levels of MS.
8. There are different types of MS
Doctors and researchers recognize several types of MS, including:
- clinically isolated syndrome, which is a first episode of neurological symptoms that may or may not develop into MS
- relapsing-remitting MS, which is the most common type of MS, where flare-ups or relapses are followed by periods of recovery or remission
- secondary progressive MS, which is the stage that follows relapsing-remitting MS, where symptoms start to progress more steadily
- primary progressive MS, where symptoms worsen gradually from disease onset, with few or no relapses
Additionally, there are several rare forms of MS, including malignant MS, inactive MS, and pediatric MS.
9. MS can occur in kids
Although MS is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, it can also occur in kids and older adults.
When the onset happens before age 18, it is known as pediatric MS. Between 3% and 10% of all people with MS are diagnosed before the age of 16, and estimates suggest that fewer than 5,000 children and adolescents in the United States have MS.
10. It is possible to live a full life with MS
An MS diagnosis and its impact on your well-being can feel devastating, but there are ways to manage symptoms, feel more in control, and perhaps even find moments of joy and fulfillment.
Treatment advances and greater access to support networks have allowed many people with MS to continue working, studying, and engaging in hobbies. With the help of a knowledgeable care team and MS peers, such as those in the Multiple Sclerosis News Today Facebook group, you can find support for navigating life with MS.
Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
