Multiple Sclerosis (MS): The Basics
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain and central nervous system that causes numbness or tingling in the limbs, fatigue, lack of coordination, blurry vision, and unsteady gait.
There is no single symptom that definitively indicates someone has MS. MRI scans play a critical role in diagnosing the condition, Dr. Lauren Krupp, a neurologist at NYU Langone in New York City, tells SurvivorNet. Blood tests may also be used to rule out other conditions.
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Dr. Krupp describes MS as an “immune mediated condition,” which causes the immune system to work against itself.
“We’re not exactly sure why that happens, but it probably has to do with an exposure to a virus at some point in time. And in the effort to fight off that virus, the immune system turns against itself and specifically, a coating of the nerves called myelin,” Dr. Krupp explains. “The myelin that it affects involves the central nervous system, and that’s the brain and the spinal cord.”
While there is no cure, many people with MS find support through mobility aids like wheelchairs, canes, and leg braces, as well as disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that can help improve quality of life. Certain injectable, oral, and infusion medications can be used to manage MS, but each treatment has potential side effects and your care team will need to weigh the risks vs. potential benefits.
Some people have extremely mild symptoms and treatment is not required.
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