What is M.S?

But what exactly -is- M.S?

This is something I've found myself being asked a fair bit, I'll admit it is something I, like many people, was woefully ignorant of.

Most people know M.S. is something to be worried about if you're told you have it, Some will know it stands for Multiple Sclerosis, and the image most people have is of a wheelchair.

I will try here to explain my understanding of M.S, although I know I am no scientist, neurologist or medical expert, and I will provide useful links for more detail for those interested.

Multiple Sclerosis affects around 100,000 people in the UK

Most people diagnosed are between 20 and 40, although it can affect older and younger.

Almost twice as many Women have M.S. as men.

Not everyone ends up in a wheelchair.

Multiple Who-de-What-now? 

Short Description and Causes

"Multiple Sclerosis" often shortened to 'M.S.'  is a "Neurological Condition", a chronic, degenerative disease, or disorder. As with many things the exact description varies slightly depending on fashions with language itself, variance of understanding and good old Political correctness.

In other words, it is a disease(disorder, condition) which affects the nerves and nerve pathways.

It is not 'Contagious' you do not 'Catch' MS, it is something that develops.Exact causes are not yet known, but it research suggests it to be an aligning of genetic, environmental and other factors, along with a good helping of sheer bad luck.

It is a chronic condition, because there is no cure, it is not something people 'get better' from. Some sufferers may have 'remission' where symptoms ease or fade completely for a while, but this does not mean they no longer have M.S.

Degenerative, well, No-one ever wants to hear 'Degenerative' attached to something they have. The effects of MS eventually accumulate and over many years most sufferers with gradually degenerate or 'get worse'.

It is however, not terminal except in extremely rare and aggressive cases.

Right, but what actually is it?

The Science Bit....

Multiple Sclerosis, literally translates as 'many scars'.

The sufferers immune system attacks the "Myelin". Myelin is a protien that surrounds each nerve.

The best way of describing it is this; Nerves control everything in your body, they are like electrical cables. Myelin, is like the insulating plastic around the cables, protecting them from damage and shorting out.

As the immune system attacks the myelin, the nerves become exposed and their electrical impulses too and from the brain become interrupted, distorted, or weakened. This can mean slower reflexes, tingling and numbness, muscle-spasms, balance problems, sight problems, etc.

Essentially M.S. and the destruction of the Myelin nerve-coating can produce pretty much any neurological symptom*.

As the condition progresses the body heals around the damaged nerves, forming scar-tissue, which in turn makes it even harder for messages to travel through if at all.

*(Neurological Symptom means a symptom that is essentially to do with the body's perception of things - Sense of touch, sight, - Or to do with the brain's control of the body, muscle weakness etc. But only if there is "No Physical Cause". For example, if you're vision goes blurry because you've been poked in the eye, thats a Physical symptom caused by damage to the eye, If there is no damage to the eye, no infection or any physical problem and your vision is blurry, then it may well be that the nerves taking the information from the eye are not functioning, Hence it being a Neurological Symptom)

Oh My God - I Have {Insert Symptom Here}

First things first. Don't panic, Don't play Dr-Google, or by the time you've finished looking things up you'll be clinically dead.

Because of the effect of Multiple Sclerosis its huge range of symptoms mean anything you are concerned about could be caused by any number of other reasons, from a trapped nerve, to a virus, cold, generally being run down, etc etc.

As I would advise with -anything- you are concerned about, Go and See your GP. If you're worried, then no, you're not making a fuss. They will be able to discuss any concerns and look into what may be causing any symptoms.

M.S. affects around 1 in 1000 people in the UK, do not panic, just go and see your GP.