In our last blog, we took a closer look at Traumatic Brain Injuries, one of the conditions those who use complex rehab often live with. For today's blog, we're going to look at another condition: multiple sclerosis.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis occurs when the myelin coating around the nerve fibers in the central nervous system become damaged, leading to an interference with the transmission of nerve signals between the brain, spinal cord and the rest of the body. One analogy people often use is that multiple sclerosis is akin to an electrical wire that's been stripped of its protective coating.
Who gets Multiple Sclerosis?
Doctors aren't sure what causes multiple sclerosis, but they think it may have something to do with people being pre-disposed to it and then being exposed to something in their environment that sets it off. It has not been proven to be hereditary, but doctors do know that it's much more prevalent among those of northern European descent. Women are also more prone to developing it than men. Multiple sclerosis usually develops between the ages of 20-50, but some have had it as young as 2 and as old as 75.
What are the signs of Multiple Sclerosis?
Some of the common signs include:
- Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs
- Partial or complete loss of central vision, usually in one eye, often with pain during eye movement (optic neuritis)
- Double vision or blurring of vision
- Tingling or pain in parts of your body
- Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain head movements
- Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
March 26, 2016 by NCART