The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. It’s considered an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of MS , this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord (myelin).
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How does someone end up with MS?
Genetics. Several genes are believed to play a role in MS. Your chance for developing MS is slightly higher if a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, has the disease. If your parent or sibling has MS, your lifetime risk for getting the disease is estimated to be around 3 percent.
Is MS genetic or hereditary?
your genes – MS isn’t directly inherited, but people who are related to someone with the condition are more likely to develop it; the chance of a sibling or child of someone with MS also developing it is estimated to be around 2 to 3%
What are usually the first signs of MS?
Common early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) include:
- vision problems.
- tingling and numbness.
- pains and spasms.
- weakness or fatigue.
- balance problems or dizziness.
- bladder issues.
- sexual dysfunction.
- cognitive problems.
Can you get MS all of a sudden?
Most commonly, MS starts with a vague symptom that disappears completely within a few days or weeks. Symptoms can appear suddenly and then vanish for years after the first episode, or in some cases never reappear. The symptoms of MS vary greatly and can range from mild to severe.
Can MS go away?
Multiple sclerosis treatment. There is currently no cure for MS. The goal of treatment is to help you cope with and relieve symptoms, slow the progress of the disease and maintain a good quality of life. This can be done through a combination of medicine and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Is MS fatal if untreated?
MS isn’t a fatal condition in most cases, and most people with MS have a close-to-normal life expectancy. But since the disease varies so much from person to person, it can be difficult for doctors to predict whether their condition will worsen or improve.
Can MS be brought on by stress?
Can stress cause MS? There is no definitive evidence to say that stress is a cause for MS. Stress can, however, make it difficult for a person to manage MS symptoms. Many patients also report that stress triggered their MS symptoms or caused a relapse.
What age does MS usually start?
Age. MS can occur at any age, but onset usually occurs around 20 and 40 years of age. However, younger and older people can be affected.
Can you live a normal life with MS?
Most people with MS can expect to live as long as people without MS, but the condition can affect their daily life. For some people, the changes will be minor. For others, they can mean a loss of mobility and other functions.
Where does MS usually start?
Here’s where MS (typically) starts
Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is usually the most common, Shoemaker says. You may experience eye pain, blurred vision and headache.
How long can you have MS without knowing?
Benign MS can’t be identified at the time of initial diagnosis; it can take as long as 15 years to diagnose. The course of MS is unpredictable, and having benign MS doesn’t mean that it can’t progress into a more severe form of MS.
What are the four stages of MS?
What are the 4 stages of MS?
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) This is the first episode of symptoms caused by inflammation and damage to the myelin covering on nerves in the brain or spinal cord.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
- Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS)
- Primary-progressive MS (PPMS)
What does the MS hug feel like?
The ‘MS hug’ is symptom of MS that feels like an uncomfortable, sometimes painful feeling of tightness or pressure, usually around your stomach or chest. The pain or tightness can stretch all around the chest or stomach, or it can be just on one side. The MS hug can feel different from one person to another.
Are MS symptoms worse in the morning?
Katrina says: Stiffness is often worse in the mornings because you’ve spent a prolonged period of time fairly inactive in bed at night. It is quite a common phenomenon that many people with MS spasticity report.
What does MS leg pain feel like?
It often occurs in the legs. Paraesthesia types include pins and needles, tingling, shivering, burning pains, feelings of pressure, and areas of skin with heightened sensitivity to touch. The pains associated with these can be aching, throbbing, stabbing, shooting, gnawing, tingling, tightness and numbness.
Is MS curable if caught early?
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment typically focuses on speeding recovery from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease and managing MS symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary.
What can trigger an MS episode?
Here are some of the most common triggers you may experience with MS and tips to avoid them.
- Stress. Having a chronic disease like MS can establish a new source of stress.
- Heat.
- Childbirth.
- Getting sick.
- Certain vaccines.
- Vitamin D deficiency.
- Lack of sleep.
- Poor diet.
Is MS treatable if caught early?
Starting treatment early generally provides the best chance at slowing the progression of MS. It reduces the inflammation and damage to the nerve cells that cause your disease to worsen. Early treatment with DMTs and other therapies for symptom management may also reduce pain and help you better manage your condition.
Will I end up in a wheelchair with MS?
Everyone with MS ends up in a wheelchair
Not true. Many people living with MS remain able to walk unassisted, while a smaller number need the help of a mobility aid.
What are symptoms of MS in a woman?
MS symptoms in females include the following.
- Vision problems. For many people, a vision problem is the first noticeable symptom of MS.
- Numbness.
- Fatigue.
- Bladder problems.
- Bowel problems.
- Pain.
- Cognitive changes.
- Depression.