All About Multiple Sclerosis

By Robert Groth

Introduction to Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is known to affect more than 250,000 people world wide and 400,000+ people in the United States of America alone! This disease affects more women than men, and most people show the first signs of this degenerative disease between 20 to 40 years of ages.

A chronic and potentially incapacitating disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects the central nervous system or the brain and spinal cord areas in your body. Believed to be an autoimmune disorder, MS is a condition where the patient’s immune system produces antibodies against their own body.

These antibodies and WBCs (White blood corpuscles) are then directed against proteins in the “myelin” sheath. The myelin sheath is made up of fatty substance that protects the nerve fibers in the spinal cord and brain. This attack usually results in injury and swelling to the myelin sheath and ultimately to the surrounding nerves. The injury leads to scarring or sclerosis in multiple areas of the central immune system, thus damaging the nerve signals and control muscle coordination as well as vision, and strength.

The nature of it is unpredictable and it can vary in severity from person to person. While some people experience only mild illness, it can lead to permanent disability in many others. Treatments for MS can help in modifying the course of this illness while relieving symptoms as well.

Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

The signs and symptoms are wide and varied. More often than not, they depend on the area where nerve fibers have been affected. Some of the common symptoms of it include:

- Feeling of weakness or numbness in one or both limbs. The feeling usually starts on one side of the body or begins in the bottom half of the body.
- Full or partial loss of vision, typically starts with one eye at a time accompanied by some pain when making eye movement
- Blurring of vision or experiencing double vision
- A tingling or painful sensation in some parts of the body
- Experience of tremor, inability to walk straight, or lack of proper coordination
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Muscle stiffness or spastic movement
- Slurred Speech
- Full or Partial paralysis
- Issues with bowel, bladder or sexual functions
- Forgetfulness/memory loss
- Lack of concentration

There are 3 forms of multiple sclerosis:

* Relapsing-remitting MS: Almost 80% people are affected by this type of MS. There are visible relapses with some amount of recovery in between.

* Secondary progressive MS: Technically secondary progressive MS is a form of progressive MS, but chances of relapse are mainly in early-to-mid stages. There is slow and regular loss of cognitive and physical functions. 50% of those who suffer from relapsing remitting MS develop this type of within 10 years of diagnosis.

* Primary progressive MS: There are no relapses in this type of multiple sclerosis. However, there is loss of cognitive and physical functions over a period of time. About 10% people are affected by this type of it.

© CG Groth Inc 2007

Robert Groth, author and speaker was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1990. Receive more information and a free inspirational daily email on how you can beat multiple sclerosis at www.beatmultiplesclerosis.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Groth

               

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

By Robert Groth

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects your central nervous system. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease, a condition in which your immune system attacks parts of your body as if they’re foreign. These attacks may be linked to environmental factors such as viruses.

In multiple sclerosis, the body mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, a fatty substance that insulates nerve cells, or neurons, in your brain or spinal cord. This myelin sheath helps the neurons to carry electrical signals carrying information between parts of the body. These electrical signals are also how the brain controls the rest of the body. The interference with the signals results in a variety of symptoms.

As these causes attacks on the myelin sheath, inflammation and injury occur. This results in scarring (sclerosis) of the myelin sheath, further complicating the disease. These scars can be seen through brain imaging such as an MRI. It is hard to diagnose in the early stages. It is most often diagnosed to young people between the ages of twenty and forty. Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed as men.

Multiple sclerosis is very unpredictable, and affects everyone differently. In some people it is a mild illness, and can be controlled through diet and environmental factors. For others, it can lead to permanent disabilities. Some people respond well to treatments, which may relieve symptoms and lead to a type of remission. Others may not be affected by treatment at all, while a few may suffer negative results from medication.

While much is known about how it causes damage, not much is known about the cause of the disease. While several risk factors have been identified, researchers still do not know how much they really contribute to the disease. There is no known cure for this.

© CG Groth Inc 2007

Robert Groth, author and speaker was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1990. Receive more information and a free inspirational daily email on how you can beat multiple sclerosis at www.beatmultiplesclerosis.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Groth

               

MS Express

It began as a joke between Carlo and his wife Angela. When bed-confined during his early years of Multiple Sclerosis, Carlo faithfully watched Katie Couric on the Today Show every morning. He joked to Angela that he was going to visit Katie when he was stronger.

Then, after an antique, electric wheelchair named Blu came into Carlo’s life, Angela playfully argued that Carlo was spending too much time with his new toy. “I’m going to pack my bags to go see Katie Couric,” Carlo joked. That’s when the dream began ~ the dream to travel across the country in an antique, electric wheelchair to share his spirit of hope with others.

As he thought through the idea, it grew until it became The MS Express, a six-month, 4,300 mile antique, electric wheelchair trek from Seattle to New York City with three-legged assistance dog Katie along for the ride. For a chronically ill man, this may seem like a daunting endeavor. For Carlo, though, it’s a more than just a trip – it’s a mission. A mission that Carlo hopes will improve the lives of others. For the last five years, Carlo has been planning this incredible journey. Having to cancel it twice due to health issues, Carlo is determined to make it happen in 2006. With much hoopla and fanfare, his departure will be held at the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field.

Following a magnificent kick-off, Carlo will begin his six-month journey along the northern United States. In addition to faithful companion Katie, Carlo will be accompanied by a support team in a handicapped accessible chase van, donated by Foley RV and Crossroads RV, two of Carlo’s many generous sponsors. As he travels across the country, Carlo will make keynote stops as the Ambassador for the City of Anacortes (Washington). With the goal of sharing handicapped accessibility information and raising awareness, Carlo will make official visits with city dignitaries, store owners, civic groups, community organizations, and others afflicted with chronic diseases.

In addition, Carlo will share his Able Neighbor message with hundreds of school children and communities nationwide. “There’s a phrase that goes like this, ‘Count the day lost upon the setting sun that sees not a worthy deed done,’” Carlo said. “I’m just trying to do a good deed. That’s all.” After dozens of stops and raising an estimated $1 million for MS research, Carlo will conclude his trip in New York City where he has promised to treat Angela to dinner at the finest Italian restaurant he can find. “It’s the journey, not the destination,” Carlo said of his cross-country trek.

“My goal is to bring awareness to people, to help those with MS, and to share my spirit of hope.” Meet The MS Express Team Carlo Magno Born in Los Angeles, California in 1951, Carlo was the middle child of a loving Italian family. Growing up in the family car business, Carlo developed salesmanship and promotional skills at an early age.

This experience became the foundation for a 26-year career in sales, marketing and promotions. Following high school, Carlo attended a number of colleges and universities in the west to further his education. He has been married to wife Angela, the love of his life, for 9 years. They live in Anacortes, Washington near the Pacific coast.

Carlo has two children, Anna, 33, and Guy, 18, from previous marriages. In July of 1995, Carlo was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After recovering from an initial flair-up with the disease, he suffered a life-threatening fall at KBRC Radio where he worked at the time. For the next five years, Carlo was either hospitalized or housebound with injuries and illnesses, including pleurisy, blood clots, and trigeminal neuralgia. By the winter of 1999, Carlo had virtually given up and considered euthanasia to end his suffering.

He questioned whether or not he would live to see the new millennium. Then Carlo met Blu, an antique, electric wheelchair. Blu gave Carlo a reason to get out of bed in the morning. As Carlo gradually gained strength, he worked on Blu, restoring her to her original glory. Now, at 54, Carlo feels that he is in the best health of his life – mind, body and spirit. He wants to share his experiences with others to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis and to increase accessibility for the disabled in towns across the country.

“I want to define my disease,” Carlo said. “I don’t want my disease to define me.” Carlo’s next grand adventure is The MS Express, a 4,300 mile trip from Seattle to New York City, June 1st 2006. Carlo and his three-legged dog Katie will journey across the country in Blu. Katie Carlo had dogs as a child but never as an adult. In recent years, however, he wanted to adopt a three-legged dog. His prayers were answered two years ago when Katie, a four-year-old Australian Red Heeler came into his life. With little but skin and bones left of her, she had been found near the Skagit River, missing a leg and having just birthed a litter of pups. Carlo adopted her as his assistance dog.

She has been his faithful companion ever since, never leaving his side. “It was like two crippled ships meeting in the night,” Carlo joked. “She’s my assistance dog, but I like to think that I’m Katie’s assistant person.” Carlo’s beloved dog was named for Today Show co-anchor Katie Couric who Carlo vowed to visit when his confinement ended. Blu Blu is a 1955 Autoette Cruise About, a 24-volt, battery-powered, electric wheelchair conveyance, which can be operated by a 96 percent quadriplegic.

Designed and built out of WWII surplus materials by the Autoette Electric Car Company in Long Beach, California, Blu is the predecessor of today’s golf carts and motorized scooters used by the disabled today. She and others like her were introduced to the Washington State Legislature by Anacortes resident Bill Mitchell. Blu and her fellow Autoettes were granted legal access to all Public Access Routes in the State of Washington.

Blu came into Carlo’s life when he was homebound, spending most of his days in bed. Intrigued by the well-loved but worn antique, Carlo made Blu his reason to get out of bed every day, thanks to Bob Jeffcott who sold the wheelchair to him. “I think he needed Blu more than I did,” Bob said of the wheelchair.

“She has a soul and couldn’t be allowed to die.” With a lot of hard work and unmatched devotion, Carlo has transformed Blu into the beauty she once was – “a magnificent obsession.” With her Bombay Taxi Bell onboard, Blu looks shiny and new and is ready for her cross-country adventure! http://www.thespiritofhope.org Printed with permission.

               

STATINS TO HELP MS

17 March 2006

A DRUG to lower cholesterol could also help multiple sclerosis sufferers, say researchers.

Tests on mice with a similar auto-immune condition produced remarkable results when cholesterol busting statin Lipitor was combined with MS drug Copaxone.

It helped prevent or reduce paralysis, said scientists at the University of California and Stanford University Medical Center in California.

Team member Dr Olaf Stuve said: “It represents a potential new strategy for treating MS.” The MS Society said: “These are promising results.”

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