What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

I am sure anyone who has Multiple Sclerosis goes through (orhas previously experienced) bouts of depression, frustration, anger,anxiety, stiffness, and etc of the variety of symptoms due to the having this diagnosis.  What is Multiple Sclerosis?

It is not contagious. The average age of diagnosis is 20 - 50. Women are more likely to have it 2/3 women to men.  400,000 people in the US and 2.5 million worldwide are diagnosed and possibly more.  Men experience it to a different level of severeity because the hormone estrogen (only found in women) helps.  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a life-long, lifealtering, unpredictable, cause unknown, auto-immune disease that affects thecentral nervous system (CNS).  Auto- aword that is Latin for “self”.  MS is adisease wherein the immune system begins to attack itself for reasons that areunknown. The CNS is made up of the brain, spine, and optic nerves.  The brain and spine control everything insidethe human body from the memory (cognition), speech, vision, movement, walking,muscles, strength, coordination, equilibrium (balance), feeling (stiffness,numbness, and/or tingling), urinary and bowels , etc.  Anything that you can think of in regards tothe human body and its functions, MS effects. 

There are four different types ofMS which all exhibit the same symptoms but differ in severity, duration, andpermanency.  Each will be listed in orderfrom least severe to most severe: (1) the most common type is Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS), (2)Primary Progressive MS, (3) Secondary Progressive MS, and (4) Progressive RelapsingMS.   Multiple Sclerosis is as different as fingerprints so you may know someone who experiencing certain symptoms from their MS and someone else who is not experiencing the same symptoms.  It is not that one person is lying or putting on thick for sympathy.

 

For many years, people had no idea that I have MS until I verbally told them because it was not visually noticed.  MS does not make us helpless or stupid.  Yes, we may need extra help in certain areas and it does have an effect on the memory, but we are not stupid and still have feelings, emotions, and a heart.  Being diagnosed with MS or any other illness/disease definitely lets us decipher who is a friend and who is not.,who loves you and who does not, who is judgemental and who is not, who is willing to be there for you through thick and thin and who is not.

Whichever MS type you may have, know someone who has,may not have MS, or any auto-immune illness /disease or not; it is always important to bepatient, compassionate, and understanding with yourself, others, and to take your time & do it right.  Remember "Patience is a virtue"take your time & do it right.

The best saying that fits for us, great bill of health or not, "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." -Unknown.  You might feel like your world is over but it is not. It's just beginning.


References
National MS Society, . "Who gets MS." www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis.

National MS Society, . "Four Disease Courses of MS." National MS Society, . "Who gets MS." www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis. National MS society. 

Rebif Interferon, . Rebif Kit Overview. Rebif, Print. <www. MSLifeLines.com>.