Previous theories have included exposure to canine distemper, physical trauma, or aspartame, an artificial sweetener, but there is no evidence to support these.
How does MS affect women? Click here to find out more. No single test can confirm a diagnosis, so a doctor will use several strategies when deciding whether a person meets the criteria for a diagnosis. If the doctor diagnoses MS, they will need to identify what type it is and whether it is active or not. The person may need more tests in the future to check for further changes.
Learn more here about the tests for diagnosing MS. There is no cure for MS, but treatment is available that can slow the progression of the disease, reduce the number and severity of relapses, and relieve symptoms. Some people also use complementary and alternative therapies, but research does not always confirm the usefulness of these. These work by changing the way the immune system functions. A doctor may give some of these by mouth, by injection, or as an infusion.
How often the person needs to take them and whether they can do this at home will depend on the drug. The following DMTs currently have approval :.
Current guidelines recommend a person begin using these drugs when in the early stages of MS, as there is a good chance that they can slow the progression of MS, especially if the person takes them when symptoms are not yet severe. Some drugs are more useful at specific stages. For example, a doctor may prescribe mitoxantrone at a later, more severe stage of MS. A doctor will monitor how well a drug is working, as there may be adverse effects and the same drugs do not suit everyone. New drug options coming onto the market are proving to be safer and more effective than some existing ones.
Adverse effects of immunosuppressant drugs include a higher risk of infections. Some medications may also harm the liver. If a person notices adverse effects or if their symptoms get worse, they should seek medical advice. Other drugs are useful when a person experiences a worsening of symptoms during a flare. They will not need these drugs all the time. These medications include corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.
They can treat an acute flare-up of symptoms in certain types of MS. Examples include Solu-Medrol methylprednisolone and Deltasone prednisone. Steroids can have adverse effects if a person uses them too often, and they are not likely to provide any long-term benefit.
Behavioral changes: If a person has vision problems, a doctor may recommend they rest their eyes from time to time or limit screen time. A person with MS may need to learn to rest when fatigue sets in and to pace themselves so they can complete activities. Problems with mobility and balance: Physical therapy and walking devices, such as a cane, may help.
The drug dalfampridine Ampyra may also prove useful. Tremor: A person may use assistive devices or attach weights to their limbs to reduce shaking. Medications may also help with tremors. Fatigue: Getting enough rest and avoiding heat can help. Physical and occupational therapy can help teach people more comfortable ways to do things.
Assistive devices, such as a mobility scooter, can help conserve energy. Medication or counseling may help boost energy by improving sleep. Pain: A doctor may prescribe anticonvulsant or antispasmodic drugs or alcohol injections to relieve trigeminal neuralgia , a sharp pain that affects the face. Pain relief medication, such as gabapentin, may help with body pain. There are also medications to relieve muscle pain and cramping in MS.
Bladder and bowel problems: Some medications and dietary changes can help resolve these issues. Depression: A doctor may prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI or other antidepressant drugs. Learn more here about how to manage an exacerbation of MS. What is a healthful diet for a person with MS?
Find out here. Studies have suggested that cannabis may help relieve pain, muscle stiffness, and insomnia. However, there is not enough evidence to confirm this. People considering this approach should note that there is a difference between using street cannabis and medical cannabis. Also, not all forms of cannabis are legal in all states. A person should ask their doctor for advice before using cannabis, as some forms can have adverse effects.
Smoking cannabis is unlikely to be beneficial, and it may make symptoms worse. Some people have suggested that biotin may help. Find out more here. Over time, limb control and ease of walking may become disrupted.
In these cases, canes, wheelchairs, and other assistive technologies can aid in muscle control and strength. People with MS are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis due to common MS treatments steroids and inactivity. Weakened bones can make individuals with MS susceptible to fractures and breaks.
Although conditions like osteoporosis can be prevented or slowed through physical activity, diet, or supplementation, weak bones can make MS balance and coordination problems even riskier. A growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiencies may play an important role in the development of MS.
MS is thought to be an immune-mediated disease. Immune system activity seems to result in the inflammation responsible for many MS symptoms. Some research is investigating whether suppressing the immune system with medication will slow the progress of MS. Other therapies try to target particular immune cells to prevent them from attacking the nerves. However, drugs that suppress the immune system may make people more vulnerable to infection. Some nutrient deficiencies may affect immune health and worsen MS symptoms.
However, most MS physicians only recommend special diets when a specific nutrient deficiency is present. One common recommendation is a vitamin D supplement — this also helps prevent osteoporosis. Problems with bladder and bowel functions commonly occur in MS. Such issues can include:. In some cases, diet and physical therapy or self-care strategies can reduce the impact of these problems on daily life.
Other times, medications or more intense intervention may be necessary. The use of a catheter may occasionally be necessary. This is because nerve damage affects how much urine those with MS can comfortably hold in the bladder. This can result in spastic bladder infections, urinary tract infections UTIs , or kidney infections. Most people can effectively manage bladder and bowel problems and avoid complications. However, serious infections or hygiene problems may arise if these problems are left untreated or unmanaged.
Discuss any bladder or bowel issues and treatment options with your doctor. In fact, many women find that pregnancy offers a nice reprieve from MS symptoms. However, the NMSS reports that out of 10 women will experience a relapse during the postpartum period.
However, sexual dysfunction , such as difficulty experiencing arousal or orgasm, is common in people with MS. This can be caused by nerve damage or by MS-related emotional problems such as depression or low self-esteem. Fatigue, pain, and other MS symptoms can make sexual intimacy awkward or unappealing.
However, in many cases, sexual problems can be addressed successfully through medication, over-the-counter aids such as lubricant , or a bit of advanced planning. Circulatory system problems are rarely caused by MS, although weak chest muscles can lead to shallow breathing and low oxygen supply. However, lack of activity due to depression, difficulty using muscles, and a preoccupation with treating other problems may prevent people with MS from focusing on the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A study published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis found that women with MS have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. However, physical therapy and regular physical activity may help alleviate MS symptoms and reduce cardiovascular risk. In multiple sclerosis, the protective coating on nerve fibers myelin is damaged and may eventually be destroyed.
Depending on where the nerve damage occurs, MS can affect vision, sensation, coordination, movement, and bladder and bowel control. Multiple sclerosis MS is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord central nervous system. In MS , the immune system attacks the protective sheath myelin that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.
Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely and depend on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are affected. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently or at all, while others may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms.
There's no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, treatments can help speed recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms. In multiple sclerosis, the protective coating on nerve fibers myelin in the central nervous system is damaged.
This creates a lesion that, depending on the location in the central nervous system, may cause symptoms such as numbness, pain or tingling in parts of the body. Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms may differ greatly from person to person and over the course of the disease depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Symptoms often affect movement, such as:. Most people with MS have a relapsing-remitting disease course.
They experience periods of new symptoms or relapses that develop over days or weeks and usually improve partially or completely. These relapses are followed by quiet periods of disease remission that can last months or even years.
Small increases in body temperature can temporarily worsen signs and symptoms of MS , but these aren't considered true disease relapses. This is known as secondary-progressive MS. The worsening of symptoms usually includes problems with mobility and gait. The rate of disease progression varies greatly among people with secondary-progressive MS.
Some people with MS experience a gradual onset and steady progression of signs and symptoms without any relapses, known as primary-progressive MS. The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown. It's considered an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of MS , this immune system malfunction destroys the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord myelin.
Myelin can be compared to the insulation coating on electrical wires. When the protective myelin is damaged and the nerve fiber is exposed, the messages that travel along that nerve fiber may be slowed or blocked.
It isn't clear why MS develops in some people and not others. A combination of genetics and environmental factors appears to be responsible. Multiple sclerosis care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Multiple sclerosis Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Multiple sclerosis In multiple sclerosis, the protective coating on nerve fibers myelin is damaged and may eventually be destroyed. Myelin damage and the nervous system Open pop-up dialog box Close. Myelin damage and the nervous system In multiple sclerosis, the protective coating on nerve fibers myelin in the central nervous system is damaged.
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