Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a long-lasting disease that can affect your brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves in your eyes. It can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control, and other basic body functions . The effects are often different for everyone who has the disease.
Can you live a normal life with MS?
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.
What happens if you have MS?
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.
How does MS affect daily life?
Constant fatigue is common for people with MS. This tiredness can impact all aspects of life, including effective brain use and the ability to go out and partake in activities. The symptoms of MS can cause constant discomfort and disability that limit a person’s ability to go about daily activities.
What happens if I am diagnosed with MS?
Feelings of shock, denial, fear, anger, anxiety, loneliness, sadness, uncertainty and guilt are all a normal part of coming to terms with a diagnosis of a lifelong condition like MS. You may feel a sense of relief or acceptance, especially if you’ve spent a long time trying to find out the reason for your symptoms.
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.
How long does it take for MS to disable you?
Most symptoms develop abruptly, within hours or days. These attacks or relapses of MS typically reach their peak within a few days at most and then resolve slowly over the next several days or weeks so that a typical relapse will be symptomatic for about eight weeks from onset to recovery. Resolution is often complete.
What are the four 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)
Is MS considered a disability?
If you have Multiple Sclerosis , often known as MS, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits if your condition has limited your ability to work. To qualify and be approved for disability benefits with MS, you will need to meet the SSA’s Blue Book listing 11.09.
What organs are affected by multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that can affect the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves .
How bad is having MS?
MS itself is rarely fatal , but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties. The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time.
How does a person with MS feel?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks can include tingling, numbness, fatigue, cramps, tightness, dizziness, and more . Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder in which your own antibodies (autoantibodies) start attacking and destroying the nerve cells of your body.
Can someone with MS drink alcohol?
Drinking alcohol is discouraged with those who have MS because it can also worsen coordination and can cause even more slurred speech.
Does MS ruin your life?
But MS is almost never fatal , and it is possible to live a fulfilling life with the disease. Your doctor and organizations like the NMSS can help you understand more about MS and stay up-to-date on new treatments.
When should you suspect multiple sclerosis?
People should consider the diagnosis of MS if they have one or more of these symptoms: vision loss in one or both eyes . acute paralysis in the legs or along one side of the body. acute numbness and tingling in a limb.
How do you know if MS is progressing?
A majority of people with MS have some form of bladder dysfunction, including frequent urination (especially at night) or incontinence (inability to “hold it in”). Others have constipation or lose control of their bowels. If these symptoms become frequent, that’s a sign your MS has progressed.
