Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is a neurodegenerative disease. MS is caused by your immune system attacking your own nerve coatings. MS can cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms that interfere with your quality of life. There are also secondary side effects of these symptoms that can make it difficult for patients with MS to function in daily life.
One of the most common MS symptoms is chronic pain. This effect makes sense when considering how the protective sheaths on your nerves are degraded. Your nerve cells become exposed and vulnerable to damage without their protective coating.
Many patients report continuous pain all over their bodies. Some MS patients experience periods of relief followed by flare-ups at random. It can be very hard to predict the course of MS pain as it progresses.
Numbness and Tingling
Most MS patients experience numbness and tingling in their extremities, including their arms, legs, fingers, toes, and face. Due to the disruption of nerve connections and signals, your brain cannot accurately process body sensations.
You may lose feeling in some areas of your body or experience a “pins and needles” sensation. Numbness and tingling are usually the first signs of MS in most patients.
Difficulties with Movement
MS patients often have a hard time walking or otherwise moving properly. The brain signals that control coordination, muscle contractions, and overall movement are compromised in patients with MS.
This lack of coordination can lead to an awkward gait (walk), loss of balance, poor coordination, and other movement difficulties. Mobility problems can significantly impair MS patients’ daily functioning.
MS takes a toll on patients’ mental health. Dealing with chronic pain, stress, and disability can interfere with people’s coping skills.
The isolation and limited activity of MS patients can cause mental symptoms like depression, anxiety, poor self-esteem, and mood swings. MS also causes neurological changes in the brain that can change a patient’s mental state.
Multiple Sclerosis can degrade a patient’s ability to think, process information, and store memories. Cognitive symptoms vary from patient to patient, but overall, the brain’s cognitive abilities are disrupted as the immune system attacks nerve cells.
If you suspect that you might have multiple sclerosis, it is important to visit your medical provider. They can assess your symptoms and recommend some options for treatment. Many are looking at alternative treatments like stem cell therapy or peptides. You do not have to live in uncertainty about MS.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for multiple sclerosis, also known as stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.