There are no specific diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. The general approach is to test for usual diseases that have similar symptoms and eliminate the likely conditions. A diagnosis is then arrived at by elimination of the common conditions that mimic MS. This method of diagnosis is often employed to diagnose difficult diseases and the technique is called differential diagnosis. It is very important to get a detailed clinical history. This helps the doctor to eliminate many diseases and concentrate on a few. A blood test is done to confirm the results help to avoid similar diseases. Specific markers of specific antibodies for MS in the blood is being developed. This help in diagnosis.

Another test is analyzing the spinal fluid for markers which are specific to different infections and illnesses producing similar symptoms like MS. The tests can also indicate abnormal antibodies associated with MS. The spinal fluid is tapped by inserting a needle into the spinal canal and drawing a small quantity of the fluid.

MRI is an advanced imaging technique using magnetic forces. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Often a contrast material in injected intravenously which helps to identify the lesions in the brain and on the spinal cord.

Evoked potential test, which records the signal the nerves produces on the application of stimuli. The stimuli can be an electrical impulse applied to the legs and the speed with it is transmitted is recorded by electrodes. Alternately it may be a moving visual pattern that is used.

These advanced tests are used in cases with peculiar symptoms or progressive disease. The more common MS with relapsing-remitting symptoms is fairly straightforward.

Treatment for MS involves treating the symptoms, checking the progress of the condition and managing the symptoms. Rare people has only very mild symptoms and do not warrant any treatment.

Medicines are prescribed to reduce inflammation and some can have side effects like hypertension, sleeplessness, mood swings and fluid retention. Medicines should be taken only on prescription by a specialist. Plasma exchange or plasmapheresis is also employed in some cases, in which the patient’s blood cells are separated from the plasma, mixed with a protein solution (albumin) and transfused.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is considered to be an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are those that are caused by one’s own immune system going hyperactive and attacking one’s own body organs. The exact cause as to why the immune system becomes hyperactive is not known. Multiple sclerosis is one like that the immune system attacks the nerves of the central nerve system and that of the brains. MS exhibits a periodic upheaval and subsidence, the periods being unpredictable.

Each patient suffers in a way that is unique and different from the other. Some get very mild symptoms and the disease do not progress also that the patient needs no treatment. The disease attacks the Myelin sheath, a protective coating around the nerve fiber. The myelin layer, besides offering the nerve protection helps in the conduction of electrical signals from the brain to the muscle. The symptoms depend on the nerve and the position of attack and the extent of damage. In extreme cases the nerve itself gets damaged and breaks.

Listed below are the symptoms of MS:

Problems with bladder operation: Both inability to urination, leading to urine retention and inability to control draining of urine, incontinence are experienced. The incontinence is generally urge incontinence.

Cognition: The normal symptoms seen are difficult in thinking, focusing, abstracts, recovering words etc.

Depression: The chances of getting depression are 50% greater.

Bowel movement:Generally, it is constipation. Continued constipation leads to stool impaction. If the impaction is quickly resolved it can cause bowel incontinence.

Vision is often affected: Double vision, blurred, even total loss is observed. However, this happens only one eye at a time. Similarly hearing impairment can also can happen.

Fatigue: Fatigue is very common, as much as 90% experience varying degrees of fatigue. Working at office and home can be affected adversely.

Loss of sexual desire: Both genders experience decline in sexual desire. Sexual dysfunction in both genders are also reported.

Spasms: Severe spasm, often very painful. Muscle can be very stiff and difficult to move, spasticity.

Shock sensations: Head movements can give electric shock like sensations.Numbness, weakness, tingling, pin and needles sensations are common.

Tremors: Tremor is another disconcerting symptom.

Emotional changes: The first shock is being diagnosed with such an unpredictable and devastating disease. The continued destruction of the nerves in the brain brings about emotional changes.

Vertigo: Patients can suffer from dizziness and vertigo.

Balance: Gait is the way one walks. Since muscle coordination is poor due to weakness, the patient suffers balance problems and the walking style suffers.

Most scientists and doctors in the field believe that Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. It is the destruction of the protective covering of the nerves of the central nervous system and brain. The immune cells for some unknown reason, turn against the myelin sheath of these nerves. The destroyed portions are replaced with scar tissue. It can happen at any number of portions of any central nerve. Hence the name Multiple Sclerosis or MS. Like other autoimmune diseases, MS also has the character of periodic flare-ups and remissions. Many of the features of multiple sclerosis are peculiar. Women are more prone to it than men. The month of birth appears to be a factor in its development. Its incidence is higher as one moves away from the equator. Diagnosis and treatments are still a challenge.

Nerves have a central core of nerve fiber which is covered by a very thick layer of Myelin. This layer, in addition to protecting the central nerve fiber bundle, plays an important role in the conduction of the electrical nerve impulses. When this sheath is damaged and replaced with scar tissue, the transmission of the nerve impulses is impaired. If the myelin is totally absent the conduction of the outward signal stop altogether. Since the attack can take place on anywhere on any nerve the symptoms of the disease is varied. The locations where the myelin is either partially or completely damaged and replaced with scar tissue is called plaques or lesions. As the lesions grow more the nerve suffers damage and can even break. It is the outward conduction that suffers.

The exact causes for this are not known. What are known are the risk factors and some of the trigger factors. Treatment centers around suppression of the immune system with all its attendant complications.

Some of the commonly established factors that usually most likely to be the target of MS are the age group of 18 to 60 years, women, those of European descent, genetics and heredity, the geographical location. Higher away from the equator the incidence of MS increases. There appears to have multiple triggers, rather than a single or limited. Similarly, the known trigger are infections, especially viruses like Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis), varicella zoster. This is not completely established.

Urge incontinence or urine retention, constipation, memory loss, difficulty in finding words, depression and emotional changes are some of the common complaints. Life expectancy is generally not affected. 

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that is common and shows the characteristic flare ups and remittance. There can be varying periods of calm though. The symptoms depend on the nerve under attack and the extent of damage. Symptoms also changes on long time progress of the disease.

Generally, the symptoms are:

• Bladder problems. Patients suffer either urge incontinence or urine retention. They can suffer frequent urination in night, nocturnal polyuria.
• The patients have trouble having in bowel clearance, with constipation being the most common. Continued constipation can lead to fecal impaction which if not resolved quickly can lead to bowel incontinence.
• Cognitive functions are often impaired. The most frequent complaints are problems with memory, abstraction, word finding, attention.
• Chances of getting depression are found to increase by about 50%. Patients suffer emotional changes during the course of the disease. It is a shock to be diagnosed with an ailment of such unpredictability and debilitation. Besides the loss of myelin in nerves of the brain causes changes in one’s emotional make up.
• Fatigue, dizziness or vertigo, electric shock like sensation on shaking head.
• Numbness, typically on one side of the body at a time or generally in the lower half.
• Decline in sexual appetite is common in both the genders.
• Spasm of muscles, often painful, and tremors are also experienced.
• Loss of vision, partial or complete, double vision in one at a time and pain in moving the eyeball.
• The way patients walk changes due to muscle weakness, fatigue and or dizziness.

MS is absolutely unpredictable and each patient suffers in unique ways. The specific causes are not known. The exact trigger for the immune system to go awry are not known. It is not considered as a hereditary disease though the risk of one developing it are decidedly high in families whose members had developed the disease. A number of genetic variations have been identified which enhance the risk of developing the disease. It is considered a mix of hereditary and environmental factors.

It has been surmised that infectious agents like viruses common to the geographical areas of preponderance of MS can be the cause. Scientific proof for this is lacking. Smoking has been found to make a definitive contribution. Other factors like exposure to industrial chemicals principally solvents lack scientific evidence.

There are no specific diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. The general approach is to test for usual diseases that have similar symptoms and eliminate the likely conditions. A diagnosis is then arrived at by elimination of the common conditions that mimic MS. This method of diagnosis is often employed to diagnose difficult diseases and the technique is called differential diagnosis. It is very important to get a detailed clinical history. This help the doctor to eliminate many diseases and concentrate on a few. Blood test are done to confirm the results help to avoid similar diseases. Specific markers of specific antibodies for MS in the blood is being developed. This help in diagnosis.

Another test is analyzing the spinal fluid for markers which are specific to different infections and illnesses producing similar symptoms like MS. The tests can also indicate abnormal antibodies associated with MS. The spinal fluid is tapped by inserting a needle into the spinal canal and drawing a small quantity of the fluid.

MRI is an advanced imaging technique using magnetic forces. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Often a contrast material in injected intravenously which helps to identify the lesions in the brain and on the spinal cord.

Evoked potential test, which records the signal the nerves produces on application of a stimuli. The stimuli can be an electrical impulse applied to the legs and the speed with it is transmitted is recorded by electrodes. Alternately it may be a moving visual pattern that is used.

These advanced tests are used in cases with peculiar symptoms or progressive disease. The more common MS with relapsing-remitting symptoms is fairly straightforward.

While a treatment for MS is still in the works, the options available now are geared towards speedy recovery from the symptoms, to check the progress of the condition and managing the symptoms. 

Corticosteroids are prescribed to reduce inflammation but they do come with their share of side effects. Always consult with a medical doctor and specialist to help you choose a course of action.