What is MS?
MS stands for a condition called Multiple Sclerosis. This impacts the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve within the body. It is defined as an auto-immune condition, meaning an individual’s immune system starts to attack their central nervous system and leads to disrupted nerve signalling.
This disruption of signalling happens because of lesions or plaques that occur on either the brain or spine. Damage to the nerve endings occur which can lead to physical or cognitive impairments. Lesions or plaques look like white spots on either the spine or brain on an MRI.
The MS Society estimate that 130,000 people in the UK have multiple sclerosis, with almost 7,000 being newly diagnosed every year. Also, it is almost three time more common in women compared to men and majority of people are diagnosed in their 20’s or 30’s (mstrust.org.uk).
MS is a lifelong condition and one which remains unknown as to what causes it or why individuals get it. The severity of physical or cognitive impairments will vary from person to person and depends on how much damage the plaque/lesion has left on the nerve endings. Some cases can cause serious disability, some can be very mild, and others can have little to none disabling effects.
Symptoms of MS
The symptoms experienced by individuals hugely differ from person to person, affecting any part of the body.
The NHS, MS society and Shift.MS websites say common symptoms include:
- Trouble walking
- Fatigue
- Problems with vision – e.g. blurred vision
- Issues controlling the bladder
- Tingling or numbness in parts of the body
- Muscle stiffness and spasms
- Balance and co-ordination problems
- Difficulties with thinking, learning, and planning
The symptoms that individuals experience depend on the severity of the demyelination from the plaques/lesions and the type of MS that a person is diagnosed with. It is common for a person’s symptoms to come and go in flares or phases, depending on varying factors, degree of damage or certain triggers within their lifestyle or environment. It is a degenerative condition, which can mean an individual’s symptoms can slowly worsen over time. However, there are types and cases where an individual’s symptoms can remain unchanged and steady for years.
Types of MS
Upon diagnosis for MS, it is categorised into 2 broad categories. The first is called Relapsing Remitting MS and the second is Primary Progressive MS.
RRMS – Relapsing Remitting MS
The NHS say that roughly 8 or 9 out of every 10 people with MS have the relapsing remitting type. This type causes someone to have episodes of symptoms that can be new or worsening and these are known as relapses. Usually, this happens without any warning but can also be triggered by illness or stress. Relapses can last between a few days, weeks or even months at a time. In between relapses or once the individual’s relapse has passed, they go through a recovery stage which is known as remission. This remission period can mean the individual may have no further symptoms, or their current symptoms remain stable possibly for long periods of months or years without an interruption via relapse (mstrust.org.uk).
The MS Society say that the relapses are caused by the immune system attacking the protective covering around nerves in the brain and spinal cord, this is called the myelin. When the myelin becomes damaged it means the nerves cannot work as they should, and this is what causes the symptoms of MS.
PPMS – Primary Progressive MS
1 to 2 out of every 10 people will have Primary Progressive MS (NHS). This type of MS is different to RRMS (relapsing remitting) because their symptoms gradually worsen and build up over a period of time, leading to progression. Unlike relapse remitting MS, this kind does not have periods of remission. Some people can have times where the condition stabilises but not sustained times of remission.
The symptoms are usually the same as those seen in relapsing remitting MS, but differs by the progressions of disabling symptoms and an individual’s physical or cognitive function and generally, no relapses occur within this type of MS.
Living with MS
There is currently no cure for Multiple Sclerosis, but it can be managed by pharmaceutical drug therapies and by the individual adapting their daily life and adjusting to manage their condition with daily life.
Examples of helpful ways, people with a MS diagnosis can help to manage their lifestyle:
- Stop smoking – Aside from huge health benefits, the NHS say smoking could increase the speed that MS progresses. Quitting smoking could help to slow the progress of a person’s MS.
- Attend regular reviews – Keeping in contact with your support team is crucial. It is an opportunity to discuss current treatment or bring up any new or changing symptoms.
- Nutrition and Exercise – Having a healthy balanced diet and participating in regular exercise can help to improve symptoms. Fuelling the body with the nutrients it needs can help fight fatigue and maintain bowel function. Whilst there is conflicting evidence for nutrition with MS, anti-inflammatory foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, berries, fish, lean meat, and plant-based foods can help reduce inflammation.
- Stress management – Periods of stress or long-term stressors can increase inflammation and cause an individual’s symptoms to fl are or become worse. Having stress management strategies in place to help manage these and reduce stress, can help with the management of the condition.
- Triggers – Understanding and learning your body’s own limits with activities, work, or certain daily life environmental triggers, can help with the management of living well with MS. This can be done using a symptoms and trigger tracking journal which can help identify certain triggers, to then plan around them.
- Sleep – With MS, the body is already working hard to repair from the relapses or inflammation within the body so ensuring enough rest and sleep is key to reduce fatigue and to enable the body to recover.
If you are living with MS and have to stop working or reduce working hours, there is financial support options available. The NHS list below offers financial support:
- If you have a job but aren’t able to work because of an illness, you can get Statutory Sick Pay from the employer – www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay
- You could be eligible for Employment and Support Allowance, in cases where you’re unable to work because of illness – www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance
- Carer’s Allowance could be given to someone looking after a person with MS – www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
It is also important to remember that the DVLA and insurance companies must be notified if you have been given a diagnosis of MS. It is down to the DVLA to decide whether they believe someone is fit to drive or not. They will ask you to complete a form to give them more information on the condition and details of doctors and specialists.
Support and Resources
