Facts That Multiple Sclerosis Patients Need To Know

Posted on 21. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. It was first identified by a French neurologist, Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, in 1868.

There is no cure, but there are a number of medications and lifestyle changes that multiple sclerosis patients and their families can use to make the disease more manageable. In this article, we’ll examine the known facts about the disease and MS treatment options.

The disease multiple sclerosis attacks the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin in patches. Multiple sclerosis symptoms vary greatly from person to person and can include vision disturbances, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, problems with coordination, stiffness of muscles, speech problems, bladder and bowel problems, short-term memory problems, and even partial or complete paralysis.

Multiple sclerosis treatment can minimize the impact of these symptoms and allow patients and their family to live a relatively normal life. MS treatment can have some side effects, so you should notify your doctor immediately if you experience an adverse reaction to your medication.

The bathroom can present challenges to multiple sclerosis patients. MS sufferers should not lock the door or shower when no one else is home, but there are safety measures that you can put into place to make using the facilities easier.

To avoid falls, hand rails should be installed by the toilet and bathtub. Showering is safer for MS patients than bathing. Run the water before you get into the tub to avoid getting burned, place a slide proof mat on the floor of the tub, and take your shower sitting down. Keep pillows and bottles in a place where they can’t block the drain.

The kitchen can also be a minefield for MS sufferers. You should cook using a microwave to avoid burns and fires. If you do use a stove, then select a model with controls located at the front, use the back burners whenever possible, and use a stove guard which fits around the side or front of the stove.

It’s a good idea to buy a kettle with an automatic switch-off. You should also avoid using appliances such as an electric egg beater and electric carving knives. When loading a dishwasher, point blades and other sharp objects downward. Keep regularly used household items such as utensils and towels where they can be easily reached.

The combination of medication, therapy and counseling has proven to be extremely useful to multiple sclerosis patients. Living with multiple sclerosis means that you have to take the appropriate home safety measures.

Taking these little steps will make living with MS easier for both you and your family. With ongoing MS research, hopefully one day soon there will be a cure for multiple sclerosis. For more information, contact the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment ? Now Get Rid of Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be thought of as an inflammatory process involving different areas of the central nervous system (CNS) at various points in time. As the name suggests, multiple sclerosis affects many areas of the CNS.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and affects the central nervous system. Central nervous system is made up of nerves that act as the body’s messenger system. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body. Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually affects woman more than men. The disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 and 40, but can strike at any age.

Staying healthy is important for everyone, but persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) have to pay extra attention to their health. Multiple sclerosis symptoms and sometimes the medications used to treat the disease can have an impact on a person’s mobility, energy level, eating habits, and feelings, thereby compromising a person’s overall well-being.

Minerals such as zinc and selenium, help strengthen the immune system, and also may well have value in warding off viral infections. It has also been suggested that herbs such as goldenseal and echinacea have value in strengthening the immune system One problem with these herbs is that they may cause hypersensitivities and questions still remain concerning the wisdom in taking these herbs over a long time period. I would suggest caution in their use for MS treatment with echinacea perhaps being the safest herb to use to strengthen the immune system.

The treatment of MS focuses mainly on decreasing the rate and severity of relapse, reducing the number of MS lesions, delaying the progression of the disease, and providing symptomatic relief for the patient. Several different drugs have been developed to treat the symptoms of MS. However, in patients with the relapsing-remitting type, it is often difficult to determine if symptomatic improvements are the result of drug therapy or if it is just the natural course of the disease.

Beta interferons. Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron) and interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif) are genetically engineered copies of proteins that occur naturally in your body. They help fight viral infection and regulate your immune system.

If you use Betaseron, you inject yourself under your skin (subcutaneously) every other day. If you use Rebif, you inject yourself subcutaneously three times a week. You self-inject Avonex into your muscle (intramuscularly) once a week.

Disease-modifying drugs may slow down the progression of your disease and help to reduce the frequency or severity of attacks. Those licensed for use in the UK are interferon beta-1a (Avonex or Rebif), interferon beta-1b (Betaferon) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) injections. You will only be able to receive these medicines on the NHS if you meet specific criteria and they can only treat certain types of MS. They must be prescribed by a neurologist at a specialist MS centre.

Glatiramer (Copaxone). This medication is an alternative to beta interferons if you have relapsing remitting MS. Doctors believe that glatiramer works by blocking your immune system’s attack on myelin. You must inject glatiramer subcutaneously once daily. Side effects may include flushing and shortness of breath after injection.

Roles Played by Nutritional Factors in the Management of Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Although no diet can compete with existing medication treatments for multiple sclerosis in terms of curative effects, a special regime can help alleviate existing symptoms by controlling a series of biological and chemical processes inside the body. Recent research has revealed the fact that nutrition plays a major role in multiple sclerosis; while an inappropriate diet can amplify the autoimmune response of the body, determining an acceleration in the process of demyelization (destruction of myelin – protein which covers the body nerve cells, enabling the communication between the central nervous system and peripheral nerves), a proper diet can reduce the intensity and frequency of multiple sclerosis symptoms by regulating a series of processes at the level of the immune system.

Considering the fact that nutritional factors play major roles in the progression of multiple sclerosis, patients diagnosed with the autoimmune disease should ask for the advice of their physician or nutritionist in order to establish an adequate, special curative regime. The regime should contain foods that can help the body suppress the autoimmune response and exclude foods which have been identified to generate autoimmune reactions.

Persons with multiple sclerosis are advised to include in their special food regime nutrients such as vitamin D and omega-3 essential oil. Vitamin D can be found in vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy products and certain meats (be cautious though, as some fatty dairy products and meats can generate autoimmune reactions), while omega-3 essential oils can be found in fish meats (salmon and mackerel in particular) and flax (it is best to use refined flax oil).

Vitamin D and omega-3 essential oils can also be purchased under the form of pharmaceutical nutritional supplements. In order to obtain the best curative effects, patients with multiple sclerosis should ensure that their body receives between 4000-5000 IU of vitamin D each day and several milligrams of omega-3 essential oil every week (the required amount of the nutrient can be ingested by including fish in the regular diet – three or four meals of fish every week are sufficient – or by taking a capsule of omega-3 essential oil each day).

The foods that should be excluded from the special multiple sclerosis diet are fat-rich dairy products, grain products (wheat, barley, oats and rye) and dried beans. Some animal fats, as well as omega-6 essential fatty acids (contained by regular vegetal cooking oil) have also been identified to trigger autoimmune reactions in patients with multiple sclerosis and thus should be excluded from one’s diet. It is advisable to replace regular cooking oil with olive oil – which contains monosaturated fat – and fatty meats (especially red meat) with lean chicken meat and fish.

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The Benefic Effects of Cannabis On Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on 18. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

According to recently conducted experiments, cannabis can be considered an effective remedy for patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. While at first the symptomatic improvements experienced by patients with multiple sclerosis who have been administered cannabinoid products were thought to be determined solely by psychological factors, later research has revealed that cannabis actually reduces muscular spasms and stiffness characteristic to multiple sclerosis sufferers. The benefic effects of cannabis on patients with multiple sclerosis have been confirmed by short-term and long-term controlled medical studies.

In 2003, a team of researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, UK have made public the results of a series of short-term and long-term studies on the effects of cannabinoids among patients with multiple sclerosis. The previously conducted studies involved the active participation of around 600 patients with advanced-stage multiple sclerosis. The participants were divided in two distinctive groups: the first group received cannabinoid compounds in equal doses, while the second group received placebo medications over a period of 15 weeks. By the end of the experiment, the majority of patients who were administered cannabinoids experienced considerable symptomatic improvements, having less muscular pain and being confronted with milder muscular spasticity (less pronounced muscular spasm). Unlike the group that received cannabinoid compounds over the entire period of the study, the control group (patients who received placebo medications) experienced no improvements in their overall condition.

In order to confirm the relevancy of the findings and to discard any doubts concerning the efficiency of cannabis in ameliorating the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, the study was later repeated. The ulterior study was performed over a period of 12 months, and involved the participation of the same subjects. However, this time the participants were divided into 3 distinctive groups instead of 2 as in the case of the previous experiment. The first group received pills of D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the active component in cannabis, the second group received natural cannabis extracts, while the third group received placebo medications.

At the end of the experiment, patients were carefully evaluated and examined by a team of physiotherapists and neurologists. The best results were obtained among the patients belonging to the first study group, the majority of subjects who have received equal doses of THC experiencing considerable improvements in their symptoms. The patients in the second study group experienced slight improvements in their symptoms, while the patients in the third group felt no changes in their condition.

Despite the fact these studies clearly suggest that cannabis is an efficient remedy for multiple sclerosis, medical scientists aren’t still convinced that cannabinoids can be successfully used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. However, after performing additional studies on the matter and more elaborate research, doctors may consider to introduce cannabinoid compounds in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in the near future.

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New Effective Treatments in Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on 17. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is quite difficult to be diagnosed because its symptoms vary according with its stages. In young people multiple sclerosis occurs with the following symptoms: blurred vision, suddenly double vision and movement problems and abnormal sensations in scattered parts of the body.

AIDS, lupus, arteritis, hereditary ataxias, Guillain-Barr?? syndrome, Lyme disease, a cyst in the spinal cord are the diseases with which differential diagnosis must be done so as to clarify the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. To perform various tests samples of cerebrospinal fluid are needed. In multiple sclerosis the antibodies concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid is high, the white blood cell count and protein content of the fluid may be higher. MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is the best procedure to detect multiple sclerosis and confirms the diagnosis, helps detecting the areas of active inflammation and demyelination.

In multiple sclerosis the brain???s response to the stimuli such as: flashing lights and other sensory stimuli are slow because of the interrupted conduction through demyelinated nerve fibers.

Treatment

Early treatment is very important because the brain is not damaged entirely and physical disability can be slowed in its progression. Learn from your doctor about optional therapies and any possible ways of getting your life improved.

The most used treatment in multiple sclerosis were corticosteroids, for example Meticorten. But they do not stop the progression of the disability. For people who have affected the optic nerve corticosteroids are given intravenously. If used for a long time corticosteroids have many side effects such as: ulcers, weight gain, diabetes, fatigue, decreased bone density. Other treatments are: interferon-beta Betaseron injections, Rebif, Avonex that reduce the frequency relapses and help prevent the later disability.

There are available the following products: acetate injections Copaxone, Novantrone which can reduce the relapses and the progression of the disease. Interferons and gamma globulins interviene in the distruction of the myelin and destroy the abnormal antibodies. For relieving the pain propanolol is used. To reduce the tremor doctors prescribe Inderal, Symmetrel to relieve the fatigue, to treat depression Endep, Elavil and Zoloft.

It is important to maintain an active lifestyle with physical exercises such as: riding a stationary bicycle, swimming, walking, stretching that reduces spasticity and maintain a muscular, cardiovascular, psychologic health. Do not expose yourself at high temperatures and do not have hot baths or showers. In choosing a multiple sclerosis treatment one should consider effectiveness, side effects and convenience because multiple sclerosis is a long life disease. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits your treatment provides you safety, side effects, ease of use.

Changes in your life style have great effect, in treating multiple sclerosis so try to exercise, keep a diet.

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Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Methods

Posted on 17. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease and affects the central nervous system. Central nervous system is made up of nerves that act as the body’s messenger system. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body. Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually affects woman more than men. The disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 and 40, but can strike at any age. Multiple sclerosis affects neurons, the cells of the brain and spinal cord that carry information, create thought and perception, and allow the brain to control the body. Surrounding and protecting some of these neurons is a fatty layer known as the myelin sheath, which helps neurons carry electrical signals. MS causes gradual destruction of myelin (demyelination) and transection of neuron axons in patches throughout the brain and spinal cord. The name multiple sclerosis refers to the multiple scars (or scleroses) on the myelin sheaths. This scarring causes symptoms which vary widely depending upon which signals are interrupted. Multiple sclerosis may take several different forms, with new symptoms occurring either in discrete attacks or slowly accruing over time. Between attacks, symptoms may resolve completely, but permanent neurologic problems often persist, especially as the disease advances. MS currently does not have a cure, though several treatments are available that may slow the appearance of new symptoms. MS is believed to result from damage to the myelin sheath, the protective material which surrounds nerve cells. It is a progressive disease, meaning the damage gets worse over time. Inflammation destroys the myelin, leaving multiple areas of scar tissue (sclerosis). The inflammation occurs when the body’s own immune cells attack the nervous system.

MS gets its name from the buildup of scar tissue (sclerosis) in the brain and/or spinal cord. Symptoms of MS may mimic many other neurologic disorders. Multiple sclerosis affects an estimated 300,000 people in the United States and probably more than 1 million people around the world. Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely, depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including changes in sensation (hypoesthesia), muscle weakness, abnormal muscle spasms, or difficulty to move; difficulties with coordination and balance (ataxia); problems in speech (Dysarthria) or swallowing (Dysphagia), visual problems (Nystagmus, optic neuritis, or diplopia), fatigue and acute or chronic pain syndromes, bladder and bowel difficulties, cognitive impairment, or emotional symptomatology (mainly depression). Most people with MS also exhibit paresthesias, transitory abnormal sensory feelings such as numbness, prickling, or “pins and needles” sensations. Some may also experience pain. Speech impediments, tremors, and dizziness are other frequent complaints. Occasionally, people with MS have hearing loss. Approximately half of all people with MS experience cognitive impairments such as difficulties with concentration, attention, memory, and poor judgment, but such symptoms are usually mild and are frequently overlooked. Subsequent symptoms also include more prominent upper motor neuron signs, i.e.,. increased spasticity, increasing para- or quardriparesis. Vertigo, incoordination and other cerebellar problems, depression, emotional lability, abnormalities in gait, dysarthria, fatigue and pain are also commonly seen.

Multiple sclerosis is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Several types of therapy have proven to be helpful for multiple sclerosis. Medications can help ease MS attacks and possibly slow the disease. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and maintain a normal quality of life. Many patients do well with no therapy at all, especially since many medications have serious side effects and some carry significant risks. Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron) and interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif) are genetically engineered copies of proteins that occur naturally in your body. They help fight viral infection and regulate your immune system. Glatiramer is synthetic medication made of four amino acids that are found in myelin. This drug stimulates T cells in the body’s immune system to change from harmful, pro-inflammatory agents to beneficial, anti-inflammatory agents that work to reduce inflammation at lesion sites. Natalizumab (Tysabri) drug is administered intravenously once a month. It works by blocking the attachment of immune cells to brain blood vessels — a necessary step for immune cells to cross into the brain — thus reducing the immune cells’ inflammatory action on brain nerve cells. During clinical trials, this drug was shown to significantly reduce the frequency of attacks in people with relapsing MS. Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) is a chemotherapy drug used for many cancers. It’s given intravenously, typically every three months. Muscle relaxants. Baclofen (Lioresal) and tizanidine (Zanaflex) are oral treatments for muscle spasticity. If you have multiple sclerosis, you may experience muscle stiffening or spasms, particularly in your legs, which can be painful and uncontrollable. Baclofen may temporarily increase weakness in your legs. Tizanidine controls muscle spasms without causing your legs to feel weak, but can be associated with drowsiness or a dry mouth.

Multiple Sclerosis ? Causes, Symptoms and Types

Posted on 16. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that may affect any area of the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis does not affect nerve cells. Multiple sclerosis affects transmission of electrical signals to nerve cells. Multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of chronic neurological disability in young adults. Multiple sclerosis is not contagious.

This is seen most clearly in the physical demyelination of nerve membranes and the many symptoms of decreased nervous system function that accompany MS. According to Ayurveda theory, the functioning mode in the body called Vata controls the overall level of balance and activation of the nervous system. MS is a classic Vata imbalance from this perspective.

Causes

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, meaning its cause is an attack by the body’s own immune system. For unknown reasons, immune cells attack and destroy the myelin sheath that insulates neurons in the brain and spinal cord. This myelin sheath, created by other brain cells called glia, speeds transmission and prevents electrical activity in one cell from short-circuiting to another cell. Disruption of communication between the brain and other parts of the body prevent normal passage of sensations and control messages, leading to the symptoms of MS. The demyelinated areas appear as plaques, small round areas of gray neuron without the white myelin covering.

Symptoms

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be single or multiple and may range from mild to severe in intensity and short to long in duration. Complete or partial remission from symptoms occurs early in about 70% of multiple sclerosis patients.

Visual disturbances may be the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but they usually subside. A patient may notice blurred vision, red-green distortion (color desaturation), or sudden monocular blindness (blindness in one eye). Muscle weakness with or without difficulties with coordination and balance may occur early. Muscle spasms, fatigue, numbness, and prickling pain are common symptoms.

Diet

As the diet may contain high levels of polyunsaturates, a good intake of vitamin E, vitamin B6, zinc and vitamin C is needed. Vitamin E is the main antioxidant that helps prevent peroxidation of polyunsaturates and vitamin C helps to protect vitamin E. Zinc and vitamin B6 are part of the enzyme delta-6-desaturase which is involved in conversion of linoleic acid (found in polyunsaturated fat and oils) to its longer chain derivatives.

Types of MS

There are four types of MS and each progresses differently.

Benign MS

With this type you will have a few relapses (times when your symptoms flare up) and then recover. However, you need to have had very few or no symptoms for about 15 years before this diagnosis can be made.

Secondary progressive

Secondary progressive describes around 80% of those with initial relapsing – remitting MS,who then begin to have neurologic decline between their acute attacks without any definite periods of remission. This decline may include new neurologic symptoms , worsening cognitive function, or other deficits. Secondary progressive is the most common type of MS and causes the greatest amount of disability.

Relapsing-remitting MS

For about 80 percent of people with MS, it begins as a relapsing and remitting condition. This means you have relapses followed by periods of remission when your symptoms get better.

Consequences of Myelin Destruction in Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease that primarily affects the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system of the body – CNS). In later stages of the disease, multiple sclerosis can involve virtually any innervated section of the body (body parts which contain structures of agglomerated nerve terminations). By affecting the nerve fibers which have the role to transmit signals between the central nervous system and all the innervated organs, multiple sclerosis can cause a multitude of impairments at various levels of the body. When multiple sclerosis involves more parts of the body, the generated symptoms greatly vary in terms of type and intensity, rendering the process of diagnosing the disease very problematic.

Although the progression of multiple sclerosis can be efficiently controlled and its produced symptoms can be alleviated, the already existent damage can’t be reversed with medical treatments. Thus, the speed and accuracy of diagnosis play crucial roles in preventing the development of further complications and also increase the efficiency of the specific medication treatments.

All the undesirable effects produced by multiple sclerosis occur due to destruction of myelin, a substance that surrounds the cells of the nervous system. The main role of myelin is to facilitate the transmission of nerve signals at the level of central nervous system and between the CNS and all the other nerves spread throughout the body. Myelin also has the role to protect nerve cells, forming a coating that surrounds their surface. In most cases, the destruction of myelin characteristic to multiple sclerosis takes place fast and generates a wide range of dysfunctions of the nervous system. The process of myelin destruction is irreversible and most existing medical treatments can only slow down this process, being unable to stop it.

Due to the fact that multiple sclerosis can cause a multitude of dysfunctions in various sections of the body, the type, intensity and duration of symptoms differ from a patient to another. Patients with multiple sclerosis may experience numbness, tingling or pain in the muscles, muscular weakness and fatigue, muscular spasms, decreased visual acuity, blurred and double vision, frequent urination, constipation, decreased sexual function, poor balance, nausea, short-term memory loss, decreased judgment, poor concentration, and so on. The list of multiple sclerosis symptoms is very long and such manifestations may either occur together or separately, depending on the levels of the nervous system which are affected by the disease.

The good news is that patients with multiple sclerosis who receive the adequate medical treatment can regain control of their bodies and live active, normal lives. Although they can’t reverse the already existing nerve damage nor completely cure the disease, most multiple sclerosis treatments can substantially alleviate symptoms and prevent the occurrence of severe complications.

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Efficient Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on 14. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Despite the fact that there is no specific cure for multiple sclerosis in present, existing treatments are effective in slowing down the progression rate of the disease and preventing the development of further complications. Considering the fact that most of the effects of multiple sclerosis are irreversible, it is imperative to timely diagnose the disease and begin the administration of the appropriate course of medications. With the right treatment and with the aid of supportive therapies (physiotherapy and kinetotherapy), patients with multiple sclerosis can regain control of their bodies and live normal, active lives.

The medications available today are used to accomplish a series of goals in patients with multiple sclerosis: some medication treatments are aimed at slowing the progression rate of the disease, while others are aimed at ameliorating its generated symptoms and prolonging the periods of remission. The medications that are nowadays extensively used to delay and control symptomatic flare-ups among patients with multiple sclerosis are known as “ABC drugs”. This category of medications consists of Avonex, Betaseron and Copaxone.

The so called ABC drugs are crucial in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, as they reduce the intensity, duration and frequency of the immune system’s attacks on healthy nervous cells. These medications act by triggering a series of biologic mechanisms that decrease the autoimmune response of the body. Prescribed in the appropriate dose, each of these previously mentioned multiple sclerosis medications can reduce the frequency and intensity of specific neurological symptoms by up to 30 percent.

Avonex (Beta-interferon-1a) is a very effective multiple sclerosis medication that is administered under the form of intramuscular injections. This medication is used to successfully alleviate a series of symptoms such as muscular weakness, visual problems, as well as cognitive affections (poor concentration, memory loss, confusion). Administered in the appropriate dose, Avonex can also reduce the frequency of symptomatic flare-ups. Due to the fact that it also generates various side-effects ranging in intensity from mild to moderate, Avonex is usually associated with acetaminophen and ibuprofen, drugs that minimize the undesired effects of Avonex on the body. The side-effects produced by the prolonged use of Avonex comprise fever, chills and muscular pain. However, these symptoms are completely eliminated when the treatment is interrupted.

Betaseron (Beta-interferon-1b) is an effective multiple sclerosis medication primarily administered to patients with secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis. Betaseron is administered under the form of subcutaneous injections and produces the best results on long-term use. The side-effects generated by Betaseron are usually mild and consist of flu-like symptoms and local skin irritation at the site of the injection.

Copaxone (Glatiramer acetate or Copolymer-1) is yet another efficient medication used to decrease the frequency and duration of multiple sclerosis flare-ups. This medication is also administered as subcutaneous injections. Unlike interferon-based medications, Copaxone is very well tolerated by the body and produces no perceivable side-effects. Under special circumstances, Copaxone can produce temporary irritation and tenderness at the injection site.

Apart from the popular ABC drugs, the treatment of multiple sclerosis often includes medications such as steroids (anti-inflammatory drugs), as well as anticonvulsive and antispastic medications. Amantidine (Symmetrel) is often used to eliminate the states of generalized fatigue characteristic to multiple sclerosis, while medications such as Oxybutynin (Ditropan) and tolterodine (Detrol) are administered to patients confronted with bladder problems due to implication of multiple sclerosis at the level of the urinary system. Chemotherapeutic drugs such as methotrexate and azathioprine (Imuran) are rarely used, being prescribed to patients confronted with severe types of multiple sclerosis.

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Classification of Multiple Sclerosis Types

Posted on 13. Mar, 2010 by admin in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease of the central nervous system that also involves the peripheral nerves of the brain and spinal cord. At present, the specific causes of multiple sclerosis are unknown, and thus the disease can’t be efficiently prevented or cured. However, the good news is that multiple sclerosis is not a life-threatening disease and that the existing treatments can successfully keep its generated symptoms under control. With the aid of an appropriate course of treatment, the progression of the disease can be slowed down and patients with multiple sclerosis can live active, normal lives.

Multiple sclerosis is known to occur on the premises of myelin destruction. Myelin is a fatty substance that covers nerve cells, accomplishing a series of vital roles at the level of the nervous system: apart from protecting nerve cells and tissues from damage, myelin also facilitates the transmission of nervous impulses throughout the body. When demyelination occurs, (the process of myelin destruction, which also results in hardening of the nervous tissues) the entire nervous system becomes impaired, generating a wide variety of specific symptoms. The intensity of the symptoms produced by multiple sclerosis and the progression of the disease are strongly influenced by the proportions of the demyelination process and the location of the hardened lesions.

According to the intensity and frequency of its generated symptoms, as well as its rate of progression, multiple sclerosis can be categorized in two distinctive groups: the relapsing-remitting type and the chronic-progressive type. The chronic-progressive variety of multiple sclerosis can be further categorized as primary-progressive, secondary-progressive and progressive-relapsing.

The relapsing-remitting type of multiple sclerosis is the most common form of the disease and it predominantly affects young and middle-aged persons. The major characteristic of the relapsing-remitting type of multiple sclerosis is that its generated symptoms are mild and tend to occur in flares. After short periods of symptomatic flare-up, the disease goes into remission, producing no perceivable symptoms for periods of a few weeks or even months. The periods of remission usually occur naturally, although immunosuppressive drugs can also influence the occurrence and the duration of remission periods. However, the periods of remission are usually followed by short periods of relapse, characterized by intensification of the overall symptoms.

The chronic-progressive type of multiple sclerosis refers to cases that are slow-progressing and don’t involve spontaneous periods of remission. Chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis predominantly affects persons with ages over 45. Around 20 percent of all multiple sclerosis cases are of chronic-progressive type. Primary-progressive multiple sclerosis has a predictable pattern of progression, gradually evolving without periods of remission. This subtype affects around 10 percent of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The secondary-progressive subtype affects about 50 percent of patients diagnosed with the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis. Unlike the previously described subtype, secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis occasionally involves flare-ups and periods of remission. The progressive-relapsing subtype is a very rare form of chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis. This subtype is gradually progressive and is characterized by short periods of symptomatic flare-up.

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