Four Types Of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis can occur in four different ways. They are all potentially crippling, and unfortunately they are not always easy to identify or distinguish from each other.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease for which there is no cure. For this reason, getting a diagnosis is kind of bad news that doesn’t leave many patients or their families much hope.

Initiation of appropriate treatment may also be delayed if the physician is unable to determine the type of multiple sclerosis in that patient.

As a neurological disease, it is a fairly common cause of disability. This is because it tends to target young adults – generally under the age of 40. These patients then, in most cases, have to give up their studies and jobs.

All four types of multiple sclerosis are autoimmune in nature – so the body attacks itself. The body does this by creating antibodies that destroy myelin. Myelin is a substance that covers the nervous system and creates nerve impulses. Destroying myelin damages nerve connections.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Different types of multiple sclerosis contain similar symptoms. The only turnover usually comes from the development of the disease over time.

The main symptoms of this disease appear in the musculoskeletal system. The patient begins to feel weakened limbs, difficulty walking, and loss of balance. Their arms also weaken and they suddenly drop everything they hold in their hand.

Cramps are also common and are associated with pain in the muscles that contract involuntarily. A patient with this disease tries to relax the contraction area but is unable to control it.

In addition to cramps, there are also tremors and spasms in the muscles. It is hardly necessary to mention that this makes it difficult to perform daily activities, thus affecting the patient’s quality of life.

The digestive system is another area where symptoms occur. Different types of multiple sclerosis lead to constipation and urinary retention. This is because there is no myelin in the nerves carrying the information sent by the peristaltic movements.

It also affects other organs such as the eyes. Some patients first see things as two and then suffer from cramps and their limbs become weak. In addition to seeing as two, there may also be rapid movement of the eyeballs that the patient is unable to control.

Four types of multiple sclerosis

Diagnostic protocols for this disease indicate that the disease can occur in four different forms:

• RRMS (Wavy Progressive Multiple Sclerosis). This disease ranges from acute outbreaks with numerous symptoms to periods when there are no signs of the disease. The onset of the disease is usually associated with a new neurological sector caused by myelin deficiency. This type is also the most common of the four.
• SPMS (secondary progressive multiple sclerosis). This begins as RRMS disease, but develops into a form of persistent symptoms with no recovery periods. Its designation as “secondary” refers to the transition phase from RRMS to PSMS.
• PPMS (primary progressive multiple sclerosis). There are almost no asymptomatic periods in this type. The disease gradually begins completely from scratch without developing from RRMS disease. In this way, it differs from the previous type.

• EMPR. This type is the rarest. A fierce outbreak is common in this type.

Diagnosis and treatment

The international scientific community agrees that the McDonald’s criteria serve as standards for diagnosing types of multiple sclerosis. As we have already stated above, the development of the disease should be awaited so that the doctor knows what type of multiple sclerosis the patient in question has.

However, all types of treatments are similar. Corticosteroids are initially used to treat acute outbreaks when myelin deficiency appears to be increasing. In addition, drugs that modify the development of interval periods are also prescribed.

Physical therapy is important along with medications. There are several different therapies that focus on the patient’s lost abilities. This requires the intervention of physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists.

The different types of multiple sclerosis are similar in severity

This disease is serious regardless of its manifestation. Its development is chronic and progressive, leading to loss of motor function over time. There is no cure for it, but much progress has been made in managing it with the help of drugs.