Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a longterm neurological disorder. It’s an attack by the body’s own immune system on myelin, the white tissue that protects the brain, spinal cord and body nerves. It produces inflammation, plaques and scars that slow down/block nerve signals and can damage the nerves permanently.
MS often starts around midlife, and is twice as common in women, but the cause isn’t known.
The symptoms
These can affect any part of the nervous system, producing abnormal sensations (tingling, numbness, shooting pains) and movement (weakness, stiffness, spasms). It may begin with blurred or painful vision, trigger vertigo or affect hearing, balance, bladder control, sexual function, taste, smell and even body temperature control. It can also disrupt thinking, memory, mood and speech, and ‘automatic’ body functions, such as heart rate…
