Multiple Sclerosis is a disorder of the central nervous system affecting your brain and the muscles and nerves of your spinal cord. Such a centralized disease causes far-reaching damage, from impaired muscle coordination to blurred vision to poor organ functioning. Once you’ve had your multiple sclerosis symptoms diagnosed, the orthopedic surgeon office at Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute can help you find a treatment plan that is right for you.
Know Your Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
An autoimmune disease, MS, is the result of your immune system attacking the myelin, or neural protective sheath, in your brain. Without this fatty layer of protection, your nerves are vulnerable to damage and scarring, which directly affects multiple aspects of your health. Signs of MS include fatigue, poor muscle coordination, muscle spasms, vision impairment, numbness or tingling, chronic pain, depression, inability to focus, and increasing incontinence. Symptoms may begin to appear in young adults, aged 20-40, with increasing intensity over time. Although the cause of MS is unknown, there are some factors which elevate your risk. You are more likely to develop MS if it runs in your family, if you are a habitual smoker, if you live in an area with minimal sunlight (and thereby have a vitamin D deficiency) or if you have recently battled a viral infection which crippled your immune system. Ultimately, with all these broad symptoms and common risk factors, MS is too severe of a disease to be diagnosed outside of a proper clinic or orthopedic surgeon office.
How Multiple Sclerosis Is Diagnosed
In order to properly diagnose MS, your physician will likely prescribe a few tests. First, your doctor may request samples of your blood to rule out other disorders such as Lyme disease while also measuring the proteins in your cerebrospinal fluid. Your balance and coordination will be scrutinized, and your vision examined for evidence of nervous impairment. A scan of MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, can present a detailed picture of long-term structural changes in your brain and nervous system. Even with each of these results, MS often eludes diagnosis. Be patient in the process, and explore your treatment options even if the presence of the disease has yet to be confirmed.
Treatment Options You Can Expect
While there is no cure for MS, you have several options to combat fatigue and reduce the severity of your symptoms. The progression of your disease can be slowed through a number of pharmaceuticals, while supplements and holistic medicine can combat your chronic pain. To boost energy and improve coordination, consider a regiment of physical therapy and exercise, coupled with a nutritious diet. Finally, don’t try to manage your MS alone. Retain follow-up appointments with your doctor so that they can help you as the disease progresses or new therapies become available.
Contact Us
If you have further questions about your multiple sclerosis symptoms or are looking for an orthopedic surgeon in Celebration, don’t hesitate to reach out. The physicians at Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute are here to help you get answers, undergo treatment, and find a therapy that’s best for you. Call us today!