Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, disrupting the flow of information both within the brain as well as between the brain and the body. This condition is potentially debilitating and can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life. MS affects around one million Americans, or 3 out of every 1,000 people. Diagnosis usually occurs between the ages of 20 to 50, with women affected two to three times more than men are.

Depending on the location of the affected nerve fibers, multiple sclerosis symptoms may vary from person to person as well as over the course of the disease. An MS attack is a prominent bout of symptoms, some of which may have been felt before (just with greater intensity), and it may also present new symptoms.

Symptoms often affect movement, such as:

• Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, which typically occurs on only one side of the body at a time, or on the legs and torso
• Lhermitte’s sign, which feels like an electric shock that occurs when bending the neck forward, or with other neck movements
• Tremors, lack of coordination, or unsteady gait
Vision problems are also common, including:
• Partial or complete loss of vision, which typically only affects one eye at a time and often causes pain when moving the eyes
• Prolonged double vision
• Blurry vision
Multiple sclerosis symptoms may also include:
• Slurred speech
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Tingling/pain in parts of the body
• Problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function

If MS is caught early on, treatment can be started sooner, which can have a positive impact on the prognosis of the disease. In addition, taking medicine soon after the first symptoms appear reduces how many times those symptoms will recur. At least over the short term, people who take MS medicines early are less likely to have a disability when compared with people who do not. People who started medicine early—within 6 months to 2 years after the initial diagnosis—were less disabled than those who began medicine later.

Most people do not become severely disabled. In a smaller group who may face a disability, it is still uncertain if the early use of drugs can prevent long-term disability.

Researchers are developing treatments, therapies and procedures to stop MS from progressing, which are still underway and have not been developed for medical use. However, certain lifestyle changes can affect how the disease progresses, potentially slowing it down, including:

• Adhering to the treatment plan
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a healthy diet
• Taking lots of Vitamin D
• Getting restful sleep
• Avoiding tobacco smoke

Our kind and compassionate professionals are experienced in managing multiple sclerosis and can help you live a better quality of life. Call us today to book an appointment, or visit one of our clinics to meet with our healthcare professionals. We have convenient Florida locations to serve you better: in Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, Englewood, Port Charlotte and Dunedin. All of our convenient locations are open five days a week: Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM & 1 PM to 4 PM (closed from 12 PM to 1 PM for lunch). We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Bradenton FL, Sarasota FL, St. Petersburg FL, Palmetto FL, Laurel FL, Venice FL, Englewood FL, Memphis FL, Cortez FL, Port Charlotte FL and Dunedin FL.