Multiple sclerosis
Overview
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It cannot currently be cured, but treatment can often help manage it.
Symptoms
There are lots of possible symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Everyone with the condition is affected differently. Some of the most common symptoms include: feeling extremely tired (fatigue)problems with your eyes or your vision, such as blurred vision or eye painnumbness or a tingling feeling in different parts of the bodyfeeling off balance, dizzy or clumsy (uncoordinated)muscle cramps, spasms and stiffnessneeding to pee more often or not being able to control when you peeproblems with memory or concentrationsexual problems, including a dry vagina or erection problems Symptoms may come (called "flare-ups" or "relapses") and go (called "remissions"), and may get worse over time. You'll also be offered treatment and support for the symptoms of MS. Every person's needs will be different depending on their symptoms. Support you might need may include: advice about how to manage tiredness (fatigue)physiotherapyand exercises to help with movement problems and muscle painmobility equipment(including walking sticks, frames and wheelchairs) and home adaptations (such as stair lifts or railings) to help you with day-to-day activitiescognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)to help with anxiety, depression and fatigueactivities to improve your memory, concentration, thinking and mood (cognitive rehabilitation)advice, exercises and medicines to help with bowel or bladder problemsadvice and treatments for sexual problems such aserectile dysfunction,vaginal dryness,low sex drive (loss of libido)or difficulty reaching orgasm
Causes
Multiple sclerosis (MS) happens when your immune system attacks your brain and nerves. It's not clear what causes this. You might be more likely to get MS if: you're aged 20 to 50you're a woman – women are more likely than men to get MSyou have a brother, sister or parent who has MSyou smoke – people who smoke are about twice as likely to develop MSyou've had the Epstein-Barr virus (a common virus that causes illnesses such as glandular fever)
Treatment
There is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). But there are treatments that can slow the progression of MS and help ease symptoms. The type of treatment will depend on the type of MS you have and your symptoms. You'll probably need different treatments over time. You'll be supported by different healthcare professionals. This may include a specialist MS nurse, a neurologist (brain and nerve specialist), physiotherapist and occupational therapist. Treatments you may have include: steroid medicineto reduce swelling and help nerves work bettermedicines called disease-modifying therapies to reduce how many relapses you have and how serious they aremuscle relaxant medicine to help relieve muscle spasms, cramps or stiffnessmedicine to treat pain, vision problems and other symptoms You'll also be offered treatment and support for the symptoms of MS. Every person's needs will be different depending on their symptoms. Support you might need may include: advice about how to manage tiredness (fatigue)physiotherapyand exercises to help with movement problems and muscle painmobility equipment(including walking sticks, frames and wheelchairs) and home adaptations (such as stair lifts or railings) to help you with day-to-day activitiescognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)to help with anxiety, depression and fatigueactivities to improve your memory, concentration, thinking and mood (cognitive rehabilitation)advice, exercises and medicines to help with bowel or bladder problemsadvice and treatments for sexual problems such aserectile dysfunction,vaginal dryness,low sex drive (loss of libido)or difficulty reaching orgasm