Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a nerve or spinal cord disease that causes random damage to parts of the nervous system. The result is a diverse range of possible symptoms depending on which parts of the cord are damaged, and how often the inflammation reoccurs. Typical symptoms are any kind of tingling, numbness, burning sensations, "pins-and-needles" or other types of sensory changes in various parts of the body; also possible are vision changes (see a full list of symptoms).

Prognosis of multiple sclerosis is highly variable. Some people have very minor problems, whereas others can end up in a wheelchair, lose vision, or other nasty complications. It just depends which part of the spinal cord or nervous system is attacked. Some people have what is called a "single sclerosis" where there is only one incident of a sclerosis (lesion) on the spinal cord, and this may or may not progress to "multiple" sclerosis.

The cause of multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system is somehow triggered to mount an attack against its own good cells - in this case the cells that surround nerves.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

• Variable symptoms - mild or severe, long-lasting or brief. There are numerous possible symptoms because any area of the spine may be affected.
• Mild symptoms
• Sensation changes
• Movement symptoms
• Vision problems
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 53 symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Multiple Sclerosis:

• Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Test Kits
  • Home Blood Glucose Testing Kits
• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
  • ADHD -- Home Tests
  • Drug Screening Kits
• more tests...»

Multiple Sclerosis: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Multiple Sclerosis:

• Blindness
• Paralysis
• Premature death (type of Death)
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Multiple Sclerosis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Multiple Sclerosis

• Neurological examination
• MRI - to find damaged spinal areas
• MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy)
• Cerebrospinal fluid tests
• Immunoglobulin G test
• more tests...»

Read more about tests for Multiple Sclerosis

Wrongly Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis?

• Misdiagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
• Failure to diagnose Multiple Sclerosis
• Hidden causes of Multiple Sclerosis (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis: Self Assessment Tools

• Stroke -- Self Assessment Tools
• more tools...»

Multiple Sclerosis: Medical Mistakes

• Multiple Sclerosis -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Multiple Sclerosis: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Multiple Sclerosis:

• Stroke
• Brain
• more product offers...»

Multiple Sclerosis: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Undiagnosed:
  • Adult ADHD -- Undiagnosed - ADHD can be undiagnosed in adults.
  • ADHD -- Undiagnosed
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Migraine -- Undiagnosed
  • Concentration Disorders -- Undiagnosed
  • Stroke -- Undiagnosed
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Undiagnosed
  • Schizophrenia -- Undiagnosed
  • Epilepsy -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Misdiagnosis and Multiple Sclerosis

Thigh tingling need not be multiple sclerosis: There is a fairly common nerve condition called meralgia paresthetica that typically results in symptoms such as thigh tingling or thigh numbness. It...read more »

Multiple sclerosis often misdiagnosed as mental disorder: The early stages of multiple sclerosis may cause various general feelings of wellness, happiness, euphoria, or manic-type...read more »

Cluster of diseases with difficult diagnosis issues: There is a well-known list of medical conditions that are all somewhat difficult to diagnose, and all can present in a variety of...read more »

Undiagnosed stroke leads to misdiagnosed aphasia: BBC News UK reported on a man who had been institutionalized and treated for mental illness because he suffered from sudden inability to speak. This was...read more »

Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to various...read more »

Mild traumatic brain injury often remains undiagnosed: Although the symptoms of severe brain injury are hard to miss, it is less clear for milder injuries, or even those causing a mild concussion diagnosis. The condition goes by the name...read more »

MTBI misdiagnosed as balance problem: When a person has symptoms such as vertigo or dizziness, a diagnosis of brain injury may go overlooked. This is particularly true of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), for which the symptoms are...read more »

Brain pressure condition often misdiagnosed as dementia: A condition that results from an excessive pressure of CSF within the brain is often misdiagnosed. It...read more »

Post-concussive brain injury often misdiagnosed: A study found that soldiers who had suffered a concussive injury in battle often were misdiagnosed on their return. A variety of symptoms can occur in ...read more »

Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often fails to be correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients. These patients are not the typical migraine sufferers, but...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis...read more »

Trigeminal neuralgia- suicide disease: Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder of the trigeminal nerve. The cause of the condition is unknown. The patient...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Nerve Specialists:
  • Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
  • Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists)
  • Pediatric Neurology (Child Brain Specialist)
  • Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
• Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists):
  • Pediatric Neurosurgery (Child Neurosurgeon)
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Neurodevelopment Disabilities
  • Neurosurgery (Brain Surgery)
  • Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (Nerve/Muscle/Bone Specialists)
  • Neuroradiology
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Neuropathology
  • Otology / Neurotology (Ear/Hearing Specialists)
• Immune-Related Disease Specialists (Immunology):
  • Allergy & Immunology (Allergies & Immune Diseases)
  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (Child Allergies & Immune Diseases)
  • Immunopathology
  • Dermatological Immunology / Diagnostic Laboratory
• more specialists...»

Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:

• Rate Your Doctor Online
• Research Your Doctor Online
• Review Patient Surveys About Your Doctor
• Research local specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Multiple Sclerosis: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

• Brain & Neurological Disorders: Rare Types:
  • Adult ADHD -- Rare Types
  • ADHD -- Rare Types
  • Alzheimer Disease -- Rare Types
  • Migraine -- Rare Types
  • Concentration Disorders -- Rare Types
  • Stroke -- Rare Types
  • Bipolar Disorder -- Rare Types
  • Schizophrenia -- Rare Types
  • Epilepsy -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis

Read more about causes of Multiple Sclerosis.

More information about causes of Multiple Sclerosis:

• Multiple Sclerosis as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

• Steroids
• Prednisone
• Dexamethasone
• Corticosteroids
• New medications
• more treatments...»

See full list of 12 treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

Latest Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

• Emotional support
• Occupational therapy
• Self catheterizations
• Physiotherapy
• Methylprednisolone
• more treatments...»

See full list of 21 latest treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

News Archives for Multiple Sclerosis

Medical news articles related to Multiple Sclerosis include:

• Breast-feeding OK for Most Moms with MS
• Leukemia Risk From MS Drug May Be Up
• People With MS May Have Lower Cancer Risk
• Vitamin D Deficit May Trigger MS Risk Gene
• Other Health Problems Can Delay MS Diagnosis
• Protein in Spinal Fluid May Contribute to MS: Study
• Vitamin D Levels Might Predict Risk for MS
• MS Patients at Higher Risk for Restless Legs Syndrome
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for Multiple Sclerosis

Medical research articles related to Multiple Sclerosis include:

• Improving the evaluation of therapeutic interventions in multiple sclerosis: the role of new psychometric methods
• Effect of natalizumab on clinical and radiological disease activity in multiple sclerosis: a retrospective analysis of the Natalizumab Safety and Efficacy in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (AFFIRM) study
• Effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation intervention on the return to work and employment of persons with multiple sclerosis.
• Anticholinergics for urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis
• Natalizumab - Multiple Sclerosis, relapsing-remitting
• Interferon Beta for Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
• Sustained-release oral fampridine in multiple sclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.
• The efficacy of telephone counseling for health promotion in people with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

Videos for Multiple Sclerosis

Patient Surveys for Multiple Sclerosis

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Multiple Sclerosis
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Multiple Sclerosis

Prognosis for Multiple Sclerosis: Variable. Ranging from mild to very serious, depending on exactly which nerves are attacked. Average survival is 35 years after diagnosis. A rare form of acute MS can be fatal quickly.

More about prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Reseach about Multiple Sclerosis

Visit our research pages for current research about Multiple Sclerosis treatments.

Clinical Trials for Multiple Sclerosis

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Multiple Sclerosis include:

• Safety and Effectiveness of Two Doses of ABT-874 as Compared to Placebo in Subjects With Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - ABT-874/Human monoclonal antibody against IL-12
• Assessment Study of Steroid Effect in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Subjects Treated With Glatiramer Acetate - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Glatiramer Acetate
• Safety/Effectiveness of Adding Monthly Dexamethasone to Weekly Avonex for MS - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Evaluation of Efficiency of Ritalin in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patients - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - RITALIN
• Safety of RG2077 in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - RG2077 (CTLA4-IgG4m)
• more trials...»

See full list of 188 Clinical Trials for Multiple Sclerosis

Statistics for Multiple Sclerosis

• Medical statistics for Multiple Sclerosis
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Multiple Sclerosis
• Death and Mortality statistics for Multiple Sclerosis
• Society statistics for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis: Broader Related Topics

• Autoimmune diseases
• Sclerosis
• Neuromuscular disease
• Brain conditions
• more types...»

Types of Multiple Sclerosis

Types of Multiple Sclerosis

• Schilder's Disease
• more types...»

Read more about Types of Multiple Sclerosis

Curable Types of Multiple Sclerosis

Possibly curable types of Multiple Sclerosis include:

• Environmenatal agents related multiple sclerosis
• Epstein Barr virus related multiple sclerosis
• more types...»

Rare Types of Multiple Sclerosis:

Rare types of Multiple Sclerosis include:

• Environmenatal agents related multiple sclerosis
• Epstein Barr virus related multiple sclerosis
• Schilder disease related multiple sclerosis
• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis related multiple sclerosis
• Benign multiple sclerosis
• more types...»

Stories from Users Related to Multiple Sclerosis

• Could this be MS?
• 10 yr son has multiple gi symptoms
• Multiple Symptoms, Just No Answers...
• Multiple symptoms started at same time- ready to give up! HELP PLEASE!
• Help Me Please, multiple symptoms worsening, life in jeopardy
• Four years of multiple symptoms
• I think I have MS, doc thinks I am having seizures. Help
• Odd, Multiple Symptoms - Can you help?
• MS or what?
• Multiple conditions - can't get diagnosis
• MS, celiac, yeast? help!
• Daughter died after multiple misdiagnosis
• Getting nowhere fast! Any advice? Parkinson's or MS?
• MS symptoms without MS?
• multiple symptoms, multiple specialists but no-one looking at the big picture
• Could This Be Ms (hospital Are Trying To Find Out Whats Wrong)
• MS or not MS that is the question?
• MS symptoms but no diagnosis
• multiple symptoms no insurance
• Is this lupus,MS,fibro or something else-help please

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Multiple Sclerosis, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Multiple Sclerosis

NINDS Multiple Sclerosis Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a life-long chronic disease diagnosed primarily in young adults. During an MS attack, inflammation occurs in areas of the white matter of the central nervous system (nerve fibers that are the site of MS lesions) in random patches called plaques. This process is followed by destruction of myelin, which insulates nerve cell fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin facilitates the smooth, high-speed transmission of electrochemical messages between the brain, the spinal cord, and the rest of the body. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Multiple Sclerosis Information Page: NINDS)

Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID (Excerpt)

Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system targets nerve tissues of the central nervous system. Most commonly, damage to the central nervous system occurs intermittently, allowing a person to lead a fairly normal life. At the other extreme, the symptoms may become constant, resulting in a progressive disease with possible blindness, paralysis, and premature death. Some medications such as beta interferon are helpful to people with the intermittent form of multiple sclerosis. (Source: excerpt from Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID)

Definitions of Multiple Sclerosis:

Chronic disease characterized by presence of numerous areas of demyelination in the central nervous system with symptoms such as weakness, incoordination, paresthesis, and speech disturbances; the etiology is unknown. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Multiple Sclerosis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet