Multiple sclerosis is a potentially crippling disease that can be difficult to diagnose. According to the Mayo Clinic, diagnosing multiple sclerosis is a process of using blood tests and imaging scans to rule out all other possibilities until it is the only option left. At this time there is no cure for the condition. Treatment usually focuses on relieving the symptoms as they appear and improving quality of life as much as possible.
Identification
Multiple sclerosis is a dangerous nerve condition that could result in permanent nerve damage. It occurs when the body's immune system begins attacking and eroding the protective tissue that surrounds the nervous system. This causes a disruption in the nerve impulses that are sent between the brain and the rest of the body. As the condition persists, it may begin to attack and deteriorate the nerves themselves, rendering them useless. The nerves cannot be healed or repaired, and the damage becomes permanent.
Types
Some of the earliest symptoms of multiple sclerosis involve uncomfortable sensations or muscle spasms. These symptoms include a recurring feeling of numbness in the body that can make the body feel weak. Typically this symptom will occur in one half of the body at a time--the left or right half, or the upper or lower half. There may be a tingling sensation that occurs for no reason in random parts of the body, and there could also be an occasional shooting pain.
Effects
As multiple sclerosis advances, it will start to show different symptoms. Some of the more common later symptoms of the condition involve the eyesight. There could be a progressive loss of vision in one or both eyes. It will usually start with one eye and slowly move to the other. This can be sometimes be accompanied by sharp pain each time the eye is moved. There may also be bouts of double vision or blurred vision that seem to last longer each time they occur.
Potential
Motor coordination begins to deteriorate as a result of multiple sclerosis, and this can produce some very noticeable symptoms. Coordination is affected, and this can cause a person's walk to look unstable or unsteady. There may also be the occasional tremor or partial seizure. The person may also experience bouts of dizziness at random moments that could result in fainting.
Considerations
The Mayo Clinic indicates that in many cases, the symptoms of multiple sclerosis may come and go. It is possible that symptoms could go into remission for an extended period. This does not mean that the condition has been cured. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be amplified if there is an increase in body temperature.
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