The worst form of multiple sclerosis

• What exactly is the The worst form of multiple sclerosis?
• What happens when you are diagnosed?
• When do you get it?
• How will my doctor know I have it?

These are great questions when you know little or nothing about Multiple Sclerosis. Many people with MS are clearly afraid when they are first diagnosed with MS. This can be especially true if you know someone who has had a difficult course of MS.

Because multiple sclerosis is the leading cause of disability in active young adults, it is believed to be a particularly traumatizing disease. Many people don’t even know what it is or what happens to them when they get it. MS has often been confused with one of the diseases that “Jerry’s kids” suffer from. Here is a brief explanation of what it is.

A Quick Explanation

Ultimately, multiple sclerosis is a disease of the CNS or central nervous system. Nerves to and from the brain short out after being damaged as a result of inflammation. Due to this damage, your body does not receive the correct signals it needs to function properly.

This nerve damage can cause false sensations, such as burning or tingling in the arms and hands or legs and feet. It can cause numbness or tightness around the chest. It can also cause you to lose balance, trouble speaking, or lose bladder control.

Main types of oven

The four main types of MS are Relapse-Sender (RRMS), Secondary-progressive (SPMS), Progressive relapse (PRMS) and Progressive primary multiple sclerosis (PPMS). The former is the most common and the latter is the rarest form of MS.

RRMS

Each type is characterized by a different pattern or course. In the first, RRMS, a person may have acute attacks of one or more symptoms. These attacks can last from a few days to weeks, followed by complete or partial recovery of all or some of the symptoms.

SPMS

The second, SPMS, usually develops after having the first form of MS for a few years. It is characterized by a more constant progression of symptoms that results in greater disability as time passes.

PRMS

The third form of MS, PRMS, shows a more progressive disability early on. But because it is a recurring form of the disease, you may recover a little from your symptoms after the initial attack. Most likely, much of the disability caused by the attack will remain and will continue to worsen over time.

PPMS

The rarest form of MS, PPMS, is characterized by the progression of disability from the beginning. You will rarely have improvements in any of the symptoms that develop from each attack. With each attack, it got progressively worse. Fortunately, as I said before, this is a very rare form of MS.

Very rare, less inflammation

PPMS only occurs in about 10% of people who develop multiple sclerosis. Most people, about 85%, who have MS, start out with a recurrent form of the disease. Symptoms come and go and can be few and far between. Over a period of about 10 years, the disease becomes more progressive.

Another feature of PPMS is less swelling in the brain and spinal cord as shown on MRI scans. The reason for this is that early in the course of this form of MS, there is more damage and destruction of the tissues. This is most likely the reason for the severe disability associated with primary progressive MS.

Lastly, this form of MS is more likely to be diagnosed later in a person’s life. MS usually develops in adulthood, between the ages of 20 and 40. But it can happen sooner or later, in your 50s. This is also extremely rare.

MS is unpredictable

For anyone with any type of multiple sclerosis, the outcome is almost always unpredictable. Doctors are very reluctant to give a prognosis of what will happen during the life of a person with MS.

If you start out with relapsing-remitting MS, you may stay that way or go on to develop secondary progressive MS after a period of about 10-15 years. If it hasn’t gotten worse in that time, it probably won’t.