Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is the chronic, degenerative and inflammatory disease that affects the nerves in the spinal cord and brain leading to demyelination. Young adults and females get the disease very early. Jean Martin has described the multiple sclerosis in 1868.

The disorder leads to demyelination that causes hardening (sclerosis) and scarring of nerve tissue in the spinal cord, optic nerves and brain nerves. Demyelination is responsible for slowing the transmission of nerve impulses resulting in the weakness, pain, vision loss and numbness. Multiple sclerosis symptoms may worsen or develop in various parts of the body.

Multiple sclerosis gives symptoms such as:

There is no any exact reason behind the multiple sclerosis but it is assumed to be because of autoimmune disease. It occurs in woman more than men and begins between the ages of 20 to 40. However, the disease is very mild but sometimes people lose their ability of writing, speaking and walking.

Treatment for muscular sclerosis:

Yet there is no remedy to cure the disease totally and to relieve the symptoms but occupational and physical therapy may help to relieve the symptoms in short manner.

Patient may go through some side effects due to the medicines. The side effects may be serious that leads to significant risks. However, there are some forms of beta interferon such as Betaseron, Avonex and Rabif, which are approved for the treatment by Food and Drug Administration.

Beta interferon is very useful to reduce the number of exacerbations and many other slow progressions of physical disabilities. The synthetic form of myelin basic protein, which is called as copolymer is used to treat the relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Apart from the medicines there is another way of physical therapy that is also helpful to relieve the disease. It can help to preserve the remaining function giving independence and mobility for patient to do their daily activities and various other tasks.

There may be some physiological fatigue because of physical therapy and exercise that gives symptoms such as apathy and depression. In this condition, patient can take antidepressant medications. Other drugs, which helps to reduce the fatigue includes pemoline (Cylert), amantadine (Symmetrel) and aminopyridine.

Muscular sclerosis can not be diagnosed on the base of only symptoms. The symptoms may be because of other diseases also. It can be diagnosed in some patients after the onset of the illness. The National Institutes of Neurological disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are doing research to find out the permanent cure for the disease. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is also supporting the search.