Update 14.7: Multiple Sclerosis from a young patient's point of view.
Multiple Sclerosis, or MS is a chronic disease that damages the central nervous system. In Finland an estimated 7000 people suffer from the disease and the world-wide estimate is 2.500.000 patients. Most often MS is contracted between 20-40 years of age, but this can happen at almost any stage of one's life. It is possible, while rare, that the disease begins before the age of 15 or after 55. The youngest patients have been younger than two years old at the onset of the illness.
Multiple sclerosis has a broad range of symptoms and is an unpredictable, progressive disease. Therefore, each patient has a unique clinical picture. The unpredictability and uncertainty about the future can make a patient's life and those close to him/her emotionally testing. The patient can after ten years feel the same as at the time of the first symptoms, but on the other hand he/she can suffer from serious neurological symptoms, which can result in loss of ability to walk or, in rare cases, even in paralysis.
For now, there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, nor is there a method to stop its progress. During the last few years treatment has however advanced much. Medicines already exist that slow down the progress of the disease, and efforts to develop new treatment methods are ongoing. Therefore the prognosis of an MS patient has clearly improved over time.
Misconceptions about multiple sclerosis
-MS always leads to a wheelchair
Wrong. MS is a multi-faceted disease. In some cases it causes no limitations to the patient's mobility.
-MS is always outwardly visible.
Wrong. The patient can appear totally healthy.
-MS is a disease of middle aged and elderly people.
Wrong. The patients are usually young adults when contracting the disease.
-MS always results in inability to work, sooner or later.
Wrong. Many patients continue in working life until retirement age.
-MS is a form of muscular dystrophy.
Wrong. MS damages the central nervous system and through the central nervous system affects the functioning of other organs. Muscles remain undamaged, but the patient's ability to use them can reduce.
Some symptoms of multiple sclerosis
- Fatigue and reduction in ability of withstanding physical stress.
- Vision problems.
- Numbness and reduction of sense of touch, sometimes also increased sensitivity to touch.
- Muscle weakness and co-ordination problems.
- Balance difficulties.
- Difficulties of bladder and bowel control.
- Disturbances of memory and concentration.
By donating you can support the search for a cure for multiple sclerosis. |
