People with MS can experience a variety of symptoms with varying degrees of severity. Every patient experiences MS symptoms differently according to the part of the central nervous system that is affected and to what degree.
The symptoms can be a combination of different health problems, from motor control (including muscular spasms and problems with weakness, coordination, balance, and functioning of the arms and legs), to fatigue, bladder and bowel issues, sexual dysfunction, neuropsychological symptoms (including memory loss, depression, emotional changes, and cognitive difficulties), and other neurological symptoms (including vertigo, pain and visual disturbances).
Managing symptoms usually involves pharmaceutical treatments combined with physical therapies and lifestyle adaptions and supports.
A wide variety of medications is available to help manage multiple sclerosis symptoms.
Here are the common symptoms of MS and therapies usually prescribed for them.
Therapies Muscular Spasms in Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular spasms may be also called spasticity, which is when the muscles contract, become stiff, or spasm involuntary.
- Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)
- Dantrium (dantrolene)
- Gablofen (baclofen – intrathecal)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Lioresal (baclofen)
- Intrathecal phenol
- Valium (diazepam)
- Zanaflex (fizanidine)
Therapies for Tremors in Multiple Sclerosis
Tremors are uncontrollable shakings that can occur in different parts of the body.
Therapies for Walking (gait) difficulties in Multiple Sclerosis
Walking difficulties are among the most common limitation in people with MS, and are related to muscle weakness, spasticity, balance, sensory deficit, and fatigue.