How can you help someone with Multiple Sclerosis?
If someone is suffering
from Multiple Sclerosis it means there central nervous system is affected which
is responsible for sending signals.
The central nervous
the system is affected by a demyelinating disease known as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Multiple Sclerosis has an auto-immune origin. The central nerve is protected
and covered by the myelin sheath which helps in facilitating nerve conduction. In
multiple sclerosis, patients may experience myelin sheath of nerve fibers are
attacked by the body's immune system. The damage caused to the protective cover
of the nerve may result in the disruption of nerve signals. Patients suffering
from Multiple Sclerosis may experience several symptoms. You should advise your
friend or family member who is experiencing symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis to
seek medical help immediately to get the right treatment. An expert doctor will
diagnose the disease closely asking you to undergo some tests. He may even seek
your medical history for accurate diagnosis of the prevailing condition.
After examining your
the condition he would suggest the best treatment for Multiple Sclerosis suiting
your condition which focuses on a speedy recovery and manages the symptoms of
multiple sclerosis. Mild symptoms of multiple sclerosis get resolved over time
without any treatment whereas serious and persistent symptoms need to be
treated on time.
Some common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis may
experience:
- Unsteadiness or instability
- Vertigo or spinning sensation
- Fatigue
- Blur vision or loss of vision
- Clumsiness or difficulty in coordination
- Slurring of speech or unclear speech
- Cognitive problems for Eg. difficulty in concentration and changes in memory
Some common diagnostic test carried by the doctor to
examine Multiple Sclerosis
Here is a list of some
common tests to diagnose the disease accurately:
1. MRI of brain
Brain MRI is a common
test to diagnose multiple sclerosis. It helps in detecting the presence of
plaques. The stage of the disease is closely determined after examining the
location of plaques.
2. Evoked potential tests
Stimulation of nerve pathways to map
electrical activity within the brain. The evoked potentials used are visual,
sensory and brainstem.
3. Spinal tap or lumbar puncture
This is done to check for auto-immune
antibodies.
4. Videonystagmography (VNG)
This test uses infrared
cameras to track eye movements during different tests. MS patients may present
with various eye signs like spontaneous nystagmus, ocular flutter, difficulty
in holding the gaze, hyperventilation-induced nystagmus and direction-changing
nystagmus.
Treatments for multiple sclerosis
1.Self-injectable treatment
In self-injectable
treatment, certain medicines prescribed by doctors such as Beta interferons,
Glatiramer acetate, etc. are injected by an injection to the body. It can be
practiced at home after the proper guidance of the doctor to inject safely
beneath the skin or directly into the muscles. It helps in reducing the
frequency and severity of the disease.
2. Infusion treatment
Infusion treatment can’t
be practiced at home it needs proper clinical settings. Infusion medicines like
Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada), Natalizumab (Tysabri),
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone), etc. can not be taken at home. Your doctor will
advise you on the pros and cons of infusion treatments before starting it. The
dosage for infusion medication varies from person to person depending on the
severity of the underlying cause.
3. Oral treatment
As the name suggests its
the simplest treatment for easing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It is an
easy option than injecting needles or visiting clinics. Taking a course of
prescribed medicines daily works effectively in treating multiple sclerosis.
Fingolimod (Gilenya), Dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera), Teriflunomide (Aubagio),
Siponimod (Mayzent) are some of the common medicines prescribed by doctors to
take regularly for treating the disease.
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