Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that progressively attacks the central nervous system, including brain and spinal cord, and affects more than a million in the United States. It really has no known cause or cure and requires clinical, lab, or imaging findings to diagnose it. Once diagnosed properly, the symptoms – such as visual issues, numbness, tingling or weakness, paralysis, vertigo or dizziness, muscle spasms, coordination, tremors, slurred speech and fatigue – can be managed.
MS is an auto-immune inflammatory condition where the body’s own immune system starts attacking cells within the brain and spinal cord creating lesions. These repeat attacks create widespread scarring lesions; therefore, the term ‘multiple sclerosis’. Anytime you have an attack you have regions in the brain that may be affected with certain symptoms. Then you either remit back to normal or with minimal deficits. When you have these repeated attacks in the brain you ultimately accumulate so much disability that you progress with more severe symptoms. Many people experience symptoms then go back to a normal state and then later have a relapse; a cycle that can go on for many years. The body’s ability to heal overtime is negatively affected due to the fact that the nerves themselves, neurons within the brain, degenerate causing eventual progressive disability.
In most cases people with MS can expect to have relatively normal life expectancy. Usually, people don’t die from MS itself, but from complications that may result from symptoms. Regardless, people are living longer and longer with MS.
Over time new drugs and medicines have been developed to help treat MS but a diagnosis from a neurologist is required. As symptoms increase or progress, patients can seek additional help or rehabilitation from professional therapists such as physical therapists.
Clinics, such as the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Community Rehabilitation Clinic, can tailor an exercise program, or a wellness program for each person with MS symptoms to help them overcome the individual challenges they have. No two people will have the same plan, but each plan helps strengthen themselves, gain mobility, find balance, and overcome any other challenges they face.
An aggressive medical and physical therapy approach can both help with the intervention of patients complaints of MS related symptoms and treating the disease itself.
For more information on MS, listen to our podcast episode (http://bit.ly/rmupload9) which goes into greater detail.
Authors Hina Garg, PT, MS, Ph.D. Board certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, and Bet Hawley, Physical Therapy Assistant
