Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the central nervous system.  MS causes a wide variety of problems including lack of muscle coordination, weakness and vision loss.  MS is a chronic disorder with no cure, often resulting in severe disability.  Many believe that MS is an autoimmune disease because the body’s antibodies and white blood cells actually attack healthy proteins in the myelin sheath, the insulation around the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.  As a result, the nerve signals that control things like muscle coordination are slowed or blocked.  MS is estimated to affect more than 1 million people worldwide.

Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may experience a variety of signs and symptoms, depending on which nerve fibers suffered damage.  Effects of this disease may include:

• Tingling
• Lack of concentration
• Numbness in the extremities
• Sexual dysfunction
• Pain throughout the body
• Bladder/ bowel problems
• Shocking sensations
• Paralysis
• Tremor
• Slurred speech
• Unsteady gait
• Muscle spasms
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Muscle stiffness

When someone has MS, the body’s defense system turns on the healthy cells of the myelin sheath, causing the myelin to become inflamed and swollen.  The weakened myelin then detaches from the nerve fibers that it is meant to protect, leaving the fibers vulnerable.  Scar tissue then forms over the nerve fibers causing nerve impulses to be blocked.  Eventually, the nerves suffer irreparable damage and are unable to carry out vital processes.  While no clear explanation for what causes this autoimmune reaction has been discovered, researchers believe genetics of the presence of a foreign viral protein may play a role in the development of MS.  Immune system changes, due to viral infection, pregnancy, and other events may also play a part.

What is the treatment for Multiple Sclerosis?  There are many different types of treatments for MS that can improve a patient’s quality of life.  Immune-suppressing medications can be integral in slowing the progression of the disease and preventing attacks.  Physical therapy and other therapies may help control the symptoms.  Injection therapy and infusion therapy are two modern treatments that have produced favorable results in MS patients.

To learn more about MS, please visit the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America  (MSAA) or WebMD’s Multiple Sclerosis Health Center websites.  If you or a member of your family suffers from MS and can not work due to this disability, contact Indianapolis Social Security disability lawyer Scott D. Lewis.  He can help you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to your disabling condition.  Please call the law office of Scott D. Lewis, today, at (317) 423-8888 to schedule a free consultation today!