What is Multiple Sclerosis?

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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive illness that affects the nerves in the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the central nervous system. MS is an autoimmune condition, which means the body’s immune system targets itself, attacking cells, tissues and organs. If you have MS you are not alone. In the UK it is estimated over 100,000 are affected by MS. Multiple Sclerosis affects 2-3 times as many women as men.

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Types of Multiple Sclerosis

 

Symptoms can vary from person to person but there are three forms of the condition-relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive.

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• Relapsing-remitting - This type shows clearly defined relapse with some amount of recovery in between. It affects about 75% of all those affected with the condition.

• Secondary progressive - While technically a form of progressive MS this acts more like a relapsing form in the early to mid stage, with relapses and remissions being quite common. More continuous loss of physical and cognitive functions start to take over and relapses become less common.

• Primary progressive - In this type of MS there are no relapses, but over a period of years there is a gradual loss of physical and cognitive functions. This form of MS affects about 10% of all people with MS. 

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Despite over a hundred years of research no-one yet knows how it is caused. Nor is there any obvious pattern to the condition – it appears to strike quite randomly. Obviously the prime aim remains to find a way of preventing – or curing – MS.

 

However, until the cure is found, people with MS need help. They need help in understanding how to manage the condition and in learning how to live with it. This is what we try to do at the Therapy Centre.