Battling Multiple Sclerosis

By: Jeff Wilson

A disease of the central nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves; living with multiple sclerosis is debilitating. Myelin, also known as the myelin sheath, is a fatty tissue which surrounds and protects the nerve fibers of the central nervous system, helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses. If the myelin begins to deteriorate, it leaves scar tissue called sclerosis. Myelin protects nerve fibers, and when it is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted, thereby producing the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.

Affecting more than 350,000 people in the U.S., multiple sclerosis is diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40. Multiple Sclerosis is twice as likely to occur in Caucasians, more than any other group, and women are more likely than men to be affected by MS earlier in life. Later in life, the incidence of the disease in men and women is almost equal.
To date, the cause of Multiple Sclerosis is unknown. Researchers suspect that a foreign object such as a virus or an abnormal gene changes myelin so that the immune system perceives myelin as an intruder and attacks it. While some of the myelin may be repaired, it may disappear altogether, leaving nerves without a protective cover.

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By Russ Miles

In denial, I was slow to accept Multiple Sclerosis. Who, after all, would embrace a diagnosis of the dread disease of no known cause, and for which there was no cure?

“The mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society® is to end the devastating effects of MS. Approximately 400,000 Americans acknowledge having MS, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. Worldwide, MS may affect 2.5 million individuals.”

I continued to operate my own real estate company, increasing the number of experienced agents who required less hands-on supervision.

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By Michael Russell

When it comes to maneuvering around the house, multiple sclerosis can make things difficult. You never know when your arms or legs will give out on you. You appreciate the helping hands of family, friends and caregivers but sometimes you just want to be able to get around on your own, especially when you’re alone and it’s a simple thing. You’d really rather not have someone running to your rescue for every little thing when you could very well accomplish the task yourself. You’re not naïve about your limitations and very conscious of safety, but you realize your need of that little something extra for some of those tricky areas in the house like steps in unusual places and absolutely every staircase. What you need is something to hold onto.

Getting around the house safely and securely can be easier than you thought with “Safety Hand Grips”. Besides the usual places where grab bars are used, like the bathroom, shower and toilet. Safety Hand Grips can be put in all those other areas around the house where you also need the extra support but no one but you thought it was necessary.

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Re: Myth: No one can possibly understand what I’m going through.

I am going to challenge this statement as being a myth.

My husband, Chris, has been battling MS for a long, long time. He is pretty well bed bound, although he can get up into his wheel chair, the pain prevents him from staying there too long.

Before he got as bad as he is today, he obviously went through the “symptom” stages. And, unfortunately, 90% of the people we knew, did not understand what he was going through. They cared and were supportive, but they did not understand.

So much of the problem, during the “getting advanced symptoms” stage was difficult because of the lack of understanding.

No one could really understand what it felt like to get the tiredness, the fatigue that is common to MS. To get so bothered by heat and light that it would bring out MS symptoms. More →

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When my husband was first experiencing symptoms of MS, the doctors told him it was “all in his head”. He also suffers from spinal arthritis. His whole spine is fused, from the top of the neck to the bottom of the spine. Often times, arthritis and MS go hand in hand. They are both auto-immune diseases. We live in Canada, and it took a trip to the Mayo Clinic to get a definite diagnosis. An MRI is usually what finally gives the affirmation, that, yes, you have MS. They say that MS is a very difficult disease to diagnose because it can mimmick so many other conditions. Ot times, MS is diagnosed only after all other options have been exhausted.

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Multiple Sclerosis, also known more simply as MS, is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. It has been found to affect more young adults during their most productive years. Doctors have found many factors that contribute to the onset of Multiple Sclerosis. These etiologies range from viral and autoimmune etiologies as well as genetic factors that are said to contribute to the disease. However, no specific cause of MS has been found. More →

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