Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nervous system. This article sheds light on the basics of multiple sclerosis and explains why it is also known as the disease of a thousand faces.

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Multiple sclerosis: insights into a complex neurological disease

Inflammatory diseases of the nervous system can be triggered by pathogens or occur as a result of an autoimmune disease of the nervous system. These are called infectious-inflammatory or autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the nervous system. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the nervous system.

Autoimmune means that the immune system mistakenly targets its own healthy body cells. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system is directed against the body's own structures of the nervous system and damages nerve structures when inflammatory activity persists. More specifically, nerve demyelination occurs: Imagine that your nerves are a power cable consisting of conductive veins and a protective, insulating sheath. In the case of most nerves, this coating consists of myelin. Put simply, myelin ensures that electricity can flow quickly or that impulses are conducted quickly across the nerve pathways. In multiple sclerosis, the myelin layer is damaged, followed by demyelination of the nerves. Underlying nerve fibers can also be damaged in bits and pieces.

The nervous system consists of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

• Central nervous system: nerves in the brain and spinal cord
• Peripheral nervous system: All other nerve pathways in the body.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system, meaning that nerve structures in the brain and spine are primarily attacked. Neurological symptoms are the result.

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First signs and common symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. This can cause inflammation in various places in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can be correspondingly diverse.

Early signs, also known as prodromal symptoms in medical terms, can occur years before the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. They include

• bladder and bowel disorders
• soreness
• sleep disorders
• fatigue (physical and cognitive exhaustion)
• gait disorders and
• skin abnormalities (tingling, burning)
• vision problems, eye nerve pain

According to studies, MS patients visited almost 90% more frequently in the year before diagnosis than patients who were not diagnosed with MS. In around 20% of those affected, optic nerve inflammation leads to the initial diagnosis of MS.

These symptoms may also occur after diagnosis, but may also continue to change. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms include:

• weakness, stiffness, paralysis of the limbs
• sensory disorders and abnormalities of the skin on the face and trunk
• Balance and coordination problems

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis depend on the location of the inflammation foci. Early signs often include sensory dysfunction such as tingling or numbness in the arms and legs. The symptoms described may, but do not have to occur. The severity of symptoms is also very individual and differs from patient to patient.
It is therefore difficult to make predictions about the individual course of the disease due to the complexity of the disease. Nevertheless, forms of progression could be described statistically:

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Progress forms of MS

Multiple sclerosis has different forms of progression.

scstroke-shaped remitting MS

The most common form of MS is relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). This occurs in 85% of MS patients. The relapses disappear completely or incompletely with interruptions.

SeCustomer progressive MS

50% of RRMS patients go on to secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) within 10 years. Progressive means moving forward. In this form of multiple sclerosis, there is a progressive increase in disability without regression.

PrImaer progressive MS

15% of patients suffer from primary-progressive MS (PPMS). This describes an increasing worsening from the onset of MS without relapses and does not assume a previous relapsing course. Phases of slight improvement occur only rarely.

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It is difficult to make predictions about the course of events. Even after a long-term favorable outcome, symptoms of MS can change and become more severe. Conversely, initially unfavorable developments can also diminish over time.

Signs of a more favorable outcome include an onset of the disease at a young age, visual disorders and abnormalities as initial symptoms that disappear completely, and a long time interval between relapses. Signs of a rather unfavorable outcome include signs of paralysis in early stages of the disease, symptoms that only disappear slightly or not, and short time intervals between relapses.

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Treatment of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, which has not yet been curable but is very easy to treat. It is generally important to act quickly when symptoms occur. Once a diagnosis has been made, it is advisable to adjust your lifestyle and behavior in order to live proactively with the disease. Because symptoms can now be treated well. Multiple sclerosis also does not stand in the way of a desire to have children.

Medical treatment approaches for multiple sclerosis can be divided into three categories:

Treatment of an acute relapse

The aim of this therapy is to combat acute relapses. Patients are injected with high-dose corticoid as an inpatient procedure. In normal language, people speak of a cortisone injection. However, cortisone is produced by the body itself, and corticoids are produced synthetically.

VeRach-modifying therapy

The aim of progression-modifying therapy is to reduce the frequency of relapses and disease activity, as well as to delay the progress of the disease. So-called immunomodulators and immunosuppressants are used here. The immune system is shut down so that it can do less harm to your own body. This procedure is being implemented because it is an autoimmune disease.

Symptomatic treatment of MS

The aim of symptomatic therapy is to combat the respective symptom. Depending on the symptoms, physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychotherapy, and assistive care can be used here. But drug therapies, for example for pain, spasticity or bladder disorders, are also used.

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synopsis

Multiple sclerosis is a complex autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. It is associated with a variety of different symptoms, which vary from patient to patient — both in their occurrence and in their severity. Because of the diversity of symptoms, multiple sclerosis is also known as the disease of a thousand faces.