How Does Multiple Sclerosis Affect the Body?
Published: 14 April 2021
Published: 14 April 2021
Multiple sclerosis is the most prevalent chronic progressive neurological disease among young people, affecting over 25 600 Australians in total (MS QLD 2019).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) (which means ‘many scars’) is an incurable neurological condition. It is characterised by an abnormal immune response that targets myelin, a fatty material responsible for insulating the nerve fibres in the central nervous system (CNS) (which comprises the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves) (Better Health Channel 2019).
When the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin, it is destroyed in a process known as demyelination. This leaves the underlying nerve exposed, leading to inflammation and scarring (lesion formation) (MSRA 2020; Better Health Channel 2019).
This damage disrupts the nerve impulses, impairing their ability to transmit messages between the brain and the body. As a result, the individual will experience a variety of neurological and other symptoms (Better Health Channel 2019).
While the brain will attempt to heal the scarred tissue, some damage may be irreversible. Consequently, the brain will suffer atrophy (loss of volume) (Better Health Channel 2019).
MS is an unpredictable disease and may progress differently depending on the individual (MS Australia 2020a).
There are three main clinical courses (‘types’) of MS:
(Better Health Channel 2019; MS QLD 2019a; MS Australia 2020a)
(Diagrams adapted from MS Australia 2020a; Lublin et al. 2014)
A singular cause of MS is unknown, however, it is believed that the condition is linked to an interaction between several factors, including:
(Better Health Channel 2019)
As there is no single test for diagnosing MS, it may take years to reach a conclusion (Healthdirect 2020).
Furthermore, many of the early symptoms are non-specific, which increases the difficulty of making a diagnosis (Better Health Channel 2019).
Patients may undergo a variety of tests in order to establish a diagnosis, including:
(Better Health Channel 2019)
In order for MS to be diagnosed, there must be evidence of different areas of damage in the CNS that have occurred at different times (Healthdirect 2020).
While it is possible for children to be diagnosed with MS, the majority of people diagnosed are adults between 20 and 40 years of age. About 75% of those living with MS are women (Better Health Channel 2019).
The symptoms of MS vary between individuals and are often unpredictable, with no two cases the same. Generally, symptoms depend on the area of the CNS that has been affected (Better Health Channel 2019).
The prevalence of depression is three times higher in people living with MS than in the general population, with half of those diagnosed experiencing depressive episodes (MS QLD 2019b).
MS Symptoms can be categorised into several areas. People living with MS may experience a combination of the following:
Motor control symptoms |
|
Pain |
|
Fatigue |
|
Other neurological symptoms |
|
Bladder and bowel dysfunction |
|
Neuropsychological symptoms |
|
(Better Health Channel 2019; MS Australia 2018, 2020b)
Relapses are characterised by the sudden onset of a new or existing symptom that:
(MS Australia 2020c)
As MS is incurable, the main goals of treatment are to maximise the patient’s quality of life by:
(Better Health Channel 2019)
Treatments that may help to manage and relieve symptoms include:
(MS Australia 2021; Better Health Channel 2019)
Patients should also be encouraged to:
(Better Health Channel 2019)
Treatment of MS may involve an interprofessional team, depending on the patient’s symptoms. The health professionals involved may include a:
(Multiple Sclerosis Trust 2019; Better Health Channel 2019)
The unpredictable nature of MS and lack of strong diagnosis methods poses challenges for healthcare professionals.
Therefore, it is imperative that when caring for these patients we adopt an interprofessional and individualised approach to achieve the highest level of patient care.
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Question 1 of 3
True or false? Secondary-progressive MS begins as relapsing-remitting MS.
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Sally Moyle is a rehabilitation nurse educator who has completed her masters of nursing (clinical nursing and teaching). She is passionate about education in nursing so that we can become the best nurses possible. Sally has experience in many nursing sectors including rehabilitation, medical, orthopaedic, neurosurgical, day surgery, emergency, aged care, and general surgery. See Educator Profile
Ausmed’s Editorial team is committed to providing high-quality and thoroughly researched content to our readers, free of any commercial bias or conflict of interest. All articles are developed in consultation with healthcare professionals and peer reviewed where necessary, undergoing a yearly review to ensure all healthcare information is kept up to date. See Educator Profile