Many people associate multiple sclerosis with a life in a wheelchair. This can cause fear and is not completely incomprehensible. Because the multiple Sklerose is a neurological illness, which often already occurs in the young adult age and can impair the life of the patients strongly. That the multiple Sklerose is however versatile and a large part of the patients also without wheelchair an independent life to lead can, is clarified in the following text. In any case it is explained, what multiple sclerosis is and which therapy possibilities there are for the patients.
Signs of multiple sclerosis
Colloquially the multiple sclerosis is not called in vain, the “illness with the thousand faces”. The symptoms are very diverse and can occur in isolation or in combination with other symptoms. Depending on where the inflammatory foci are located in the central nervous system, there are deficits in the transmission of stimuli and the corresponding symptoms.
For example, the anamnestic and physical examination alone is not sufficient for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and a combination of several diagnostic procedures is required to diagnose the disease. The reason for this is that the first signs of other diseases, like Lyme disease, are similar. Although multiple sclerosis is a serious disease, the first signs are rather mild and do not immediately indicate the disease.
In a certain percentage, paresthesias such as tingling or numbness in the arms and legs can be felt. The patient may also feel flabby, tired and weak at first. Weakness of the bladder or bowel may also follow and lead to incontinence at a later stage.
In any case, limitations in vision are not rare. If multiple sclerosis continues to progress, the strength of the entire skeletal musculature is reduced. This limits the patient’s mobility and independence.
With regard to the skeletal muscles, spasm (cramping) is not uncommon and can lead to pain. In addition to the physical symptoms, there is also a psychological component. Fatigue in multiple sclerosis is also called fatigue and can occur in combination with depression. The patient becomes listless, which must not be neglected in the therapy in addition to the physical symptoms.
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