Multiple sclerosis (MS): what causes it, signs and course, diagnosis, therapy, is it curable or not? Multiple sclerosis in women: first signs and consequences of the disease Disseminated sclerosis

Most of us mistakenly believe that sclerosis is a disease of old people who lose memory due to age. Unfortunately, the reality is that this disease affects not only the elderly, but also the very young, and memory loss is just one of the symptoms, and even then it is quite rare.

What is sclerosis, what are its symptoms and types, who is at risk? This article will try to answer all the questions posed.

What is sclerosis?

The term “sclerosis” in medicine refers to a chronic inflammatory process that affects medium and large arteries due to their “overgrowth” with cholesterol deposits and manifests itself in the replacement of normal tissue of connective organs. The occurrence of sclerotic changes in the body can be provoked by:

past inflammatory diseases;
circulatory disorders;
age-related changes.

It should be noted that sclerosis is a disease that can affect almost any human organ and tissue: brain vessels, lungs, heart, kidneys and others.

Risk factors

Research has shown that sclerotic lesions can be caused by a number of factors, which are both modifiable and uncontrollable.

Unmodified risk factors for the development of sclerosis that cannot be controlled include:

1. Genetic, inherited from our parents. For example, the specific structure of proteins and enzymes, metabolic features.

2. Belonging to one or another ethnic group.

3. Age-related changes. It has been established that sclerotic manifestations occur much more often in postmenopausal women and in men over 45 years of age.

The factors we can modify or control are:

1. Lifestyle.

2. Some bad habits.

3. Increased cholesterol levels.

4. Diseases caused by metabolic disorders.

5. Blood clotting disorders.

6. High blood pressure.

7. Physical inactivity.

Classification of the disease

Sclerosis is classified according to how much the disease has damaged the nervous system and which organs are affected:

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the protective myelin sheath of nerve fibers is destroyed under attack from one’s own blood cells and their conductivity is disrupted. The following clinical forms of this disease are distinguished:

Stem;

Cerebrospinal;

Optical;

Spinal;

Cerebellar.

Arteriosclerosis (atherosclerosis) is a chronic disease that occurs as a result of the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, impeding blood supply, which can subsequently lead to the development of ischemia.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive disease that results in the death of motor neurons in the brain and lateral columns of the spinal column, which leads to muscle atrophy and the development of muscle paralysis.
Cardiosclerosis develops on the valves and muscles of the heart and triggers the development of scar tissue in them, which significantly reduces the ability of the heart muscle to contract.
Nephrosclerosis occurs as a result of various lesions and injuries to the kidneys and vessels that supply them with blood. Normal tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which leads to dysfunction of this organ.
Sclerosis of cerebral vessels is caused by cholesterol plaques that impair blood circulation, thereby creating a deficiency of nutrients and oxygen in brain cells and their subsequent death. In place of dead cells, cysts of scar tissue form.

Cirrhosis (sclerosis) of the liver can be caused by prolonged intoxication of various substances, and also develop as a consequence of viral hepatitis.
Pneumosclerosis is a disease that causes the growth of scar tissue in the lungs, leading to a decrease in the elasticity of damaged areas and disruption of gas exchange functions.
Systemic scleroderma causes inflammation of small vessels throughout the body, which leads to sclerotic lesions of internal organs, skin and the musculoskeletal system.
Subchondral sclerosis is a disease that affects the joints.

Having listed the main types of this serious disease, let us consider in more detail the most common forms.

This is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system. To date, it is incurable, there are only a number of methods that stop the development of this disease, as well as reduce the frequency and number of exacerbations. Despite many ongoing studies, scientists have not yet been able to establish the exact cause of its occurrence. Today, physicians consider multiple sclerosis as a polyetiological disease, that is, having several causes that cause it. Thus, the mechanism of the disease is triggered only in a certain combination of them.

Symptoms

This disease manifests itself in a very diverse way, so much so that doctors had to identify 50 different signs of this disease that can manifest themselves in one case or another. When making a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the most common symptoms considered are:

feeling of constant fatigue;
depression;
dizziness;
visual impairment;
tingling and numbness in the hands and feet;
tremor of the limbs;
bowel and bladder dysfunction.

However, similar symptoms in one combination or another may indicate other diseases. That is why various laboratory tests are carried out to confirm the diagnosis.

Motor Neurone Disease

This is also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It selectively affects peripheral and central motor neurons, which manifests itself:

in increasing weakness of the pelvic and shoulder girdle, abdominal and torso muscles;
damage to the bulbar muscles of the tongue, pharynx, larynx and palate paresis;
in decreased or increased reflexes;
in spontaneous and non-rhythmic contractions of bundles of muscle fibers of individual muscles or their groups;
speech disorder.

Lateral sclerosis in most cases develops in patients after 50 years, although this disease can affect a person of any age. Experts distinguish the following types:

Lumbosacral;

Bulbar;

Cervicothoracic.

How is it treated?

Current therapies cannot cure this disease. Patients with a similar diagnosis should be regularly monitored by doctors of several specialties. To maintain the vital functions of patients with a disease such as lateral sclerosis, treatment consists of taking many different drugs, including anabolic hormones. The disease lasts from 2 to 10 years and always, with the exception of the case of Stephen Hawking, has a poor prognosis. Patients die from exhaustion, concomitant infections or paralysis of the respiratory center.

Atherosclerosis

This is another name under which cerebral vascular sclerosis is hidden, a fairly common and often diagnosed disease. Its first symptoms may appear after the age of 25, but usually this disease is diagnosed in people over 50 years of age. During the development of this disease, narrowing and deformation of brain vessels occurs under the influence of cholesterol deposits on their inner surface. As a result, there is a slowly increasing deficiency in the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the organ supplied by the affected vessel.

Atherosclerosis has different symptoms, and their manifestation depends on the location of the disease and the spread of the process. Diagnosis is made by identifying lesions of individual vessels.

Causes

The development of this disease can be triggered by the following factors:

1. Heredity.

2. Staying in constant psycho-emotional tension.

3. Diseases of the endocrine system.

4. High blood pressure.

5. Bad habits, such as smoking.

6. Low physical activity.

During the treatment process, special attention is paid to regular physical activity, which promotes the development of alternative blood flow pathways, as well as proper nutrition.

Subchondral sclerosis

During the development of this disease, degradation of the articular cartilage occurs, which subsequently leads to changes in the surface of the joint. This type of sclerosis is divided into primary and secondary forms. In the first case, healthy cartilage is damaged under the influence of strong overloads of the spine. The secondary form occurs on cartilage that has been injured in some way. Thus, subchondral sclerosis is a disease that can occur both under the influence of injuries and diseases, and due to improper organization of physical activity.

What it is? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most rapidly progressive disease with serious neurological disorders caused by the development of random foci of demyelization in the brain structures - the spinal and brain centers, in the nerves of the visual system and the structure of nerve endings.

The disease is preceded by defective processes that affect the increase in the permeability of the BBB (blood-brain barrier), which was originally designed to protect antigens of brain tissue from the influence of its own immune phagocytosis. This process creates the prerequisites for the introduction into the structure of the brain tissue of a large number of cytotoxic cells (T-lymphocytes), provoking the development of inflammatory reactions.

As a result, sensitivity and autoimmune reactions to neuronal membrane (myelin) antigens increase, perceiving them as foreign with the gradual destruction of membrane cells.

Destroying the covering of neurons slows down and creates obstacles to the passage of nerve impulses, causing serious consequences - loss of visual functions, memory and consciousness.

The disease itself is progressive and severe. Not so long ago it was on the list of incurable pathologies. As for how long patients with multiple sclerosis live, it depends on the severity of the disease and its very form. In the absence of treatment, after no more than eight years, the patient becomes disabled and rarely lives to old age. Today, modern techniques treatments give patients a chance of complete recovery from the disease.

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Predisposing factors

Multiple sclerosis - what is it?

A significant argument in the genesis of the disease is dysfunction in metabolic processes and the rate of blood circulation in the structure of brain tissue. Together with long-term autoimmune negative effects, they cause irreversible changes in neuronal processes and depletion of the immune system, manifested by its failure and decreased adrenal function.

Young people are at particular risk of developing MS, especially women with a hereditary factor, a family history, carriers of various pathologies of the endocrine system.

There is no unambiguous theory that clearly confirms these facts, but there are modern versions of the development of the disease, including the influence of various factors:

viral infections suffered in childhood and adolescence;
autoimmune disorders in the structure of the central nervous system;
bacterial and viral pathologies;
gene factor;
toxic and radiation effects;
lack of vitamin D;
effect of vaccination against viral hepatitis.

Various conditions can contribute to an increase in the permeability of the GE barrier, caused by injuries, mental or physical stress, operations and stressful conditions.

The excessive presence of protein and fat components in the diet, which create the risk of developing pathological processes, has a particular impact on immunological and biochemical processes.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis in women and men

The development of the pathological process, as a rule, begins in young and middle age (18-45 years), although cases of the disease have also been reported in one-year-old children. As for gender predisposition, symptoms of multiple sclerosis in women appear more often than in men. Typically, the disease has a chronic course with alternating stages of sudden exacerbation and weakening of the disease (remission).

The manifestation of the initial signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis is individual in nature, as it is determined by the location of the focal localization of the lesion in the sheath of nerve fibers.

Pathological disorders can be observed in any neurological area, affecting motor, sensory and mental functions, manifesting themselves in each patient with their unpredictability and special diversity. However, they never appear simultaneously.

As the pathology progresses, signs of multiple sclerosis manifest themselves as primary, secondary and tertiary symptoms.

Signs of primary symptoms are caused by damage to the structure of the nerve sheath, causing disruption of impulse transmission. Secondary symptoms of multiple sclerosis arise against the background of the primary, as a consequence. Tertiary signs develop due to the scale of pathological processes.

A striking example is depression, which is diagnosed in the majority of patients with long-term MS.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis in women - depression

Primary symptoms have a rapid manifestation, although sometimes it can take many years to develop. The most common signs of multiple sclerosis are:

Weakness, numbness, and signs of tingling in the arms and legs, usually on one side of the body;
Decreased clarity of vision and signs of diplopia (double vision);
Various manifestations of pelvic disorders.

Sometimes there may be changes in speech, motor functions, paresis and cognitive impairment. More than half of the patients experience dysfunction in the urinary system; in more than 10% of patients, this symptom may be the only manifestation of the pathology. And with a 10-year history of the disease, 100% of patients with MS experience problems with urination.

The progression of the disease in patients with multiple sclerosis causes very extensive symptoms, manifesting itself:

1) Damage to afferent neurons that control sensory functions. More than 80% of patients show signs of unusual sensations - itching and decreased skin sensitivity. Burning, tingling and crawling sensation, passing pain. Changes in sensory functions begin from the fingertips, gradually covering the entire limb.

These processes are observed mainly on one side of the body, but can also appear on the other. Patients sometimes mistake the cause of weakness in the limbs for fatigue, until such a condition is complicated by a limitation in the most common movements. Although muscle strength is preserved, the limbs become heavy, “woolly” and seemingly foreign.

2) Violation of visual functions, manifested by optic neuritis. Damage to the optic nerves reduces the quality of vision and impairs color perception. The pathological process usually affects one eye, causing dysfunction in the form of binocular vision, blurring and diplopia (double vision).

3) Body tremors - tremors caused by involuntary muscle contractions that make life difficult and labor activity patient.

4) The manifestation of frequent headaches as a result of muscle disorders and depression. Sometimes they can be regarded as one of the first signs of the development of MS, or be a harbinger of an exacerbation of the disease.

5) Disorders in the form of aphasia and disorders of swallowing functions, which many patients do not even notice. Signs of aphasia include confused scanned speech with slurred and slurred words.

6) Gait disorder. This process is associated with muscle weakness or spasms of muscle tissue. Difficulties in movement may be due to numbness in the feet or lack of coordination.

7) Muscle spasms of the limbs, depriving a person of normal control of his arms and legs. A fairly common symptom in MS, leading to disability for the patient.

8) A hypersensitivity reaction to elevated temperatures, leading to significant severity of existing signs of MS.

9) Mental (cognitive) and intellectual dysfunctions, manifested in more than half of patients by inhibition of mental abilities, distracted attention and difficulties in assimilation of information.

10) Signs of vertigo and chronic fatigue, in the form of instability and a feeling of spinning objects, myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), symptoms (mental fatigue), hypotonic signs observed in the afternoon.

11) Sexual disorders. This symptom of multiple sclerosis is observed in almost all male patients, due to urinary dysfunction. It may be a secondary sign of the pathology itself or a consequence of damage to the central nervous system. It manifests itself as a decrease in sexual functions, erection and ejaculation. Symptoms in women include lack of orgasm and pain during sexual intercourse.

Other symptoms may be supplemented by autonomic disorders, restless sleep and depression, urinary disorders and intestinal dysfunction.

Forms of clinical manifestations of MS

Based on the nature of the clinical course, several leading forms of manifestation of multiple sclerosis have been identified:

Relapsing (with periods of weakening symptoms). It is characterized by the manifestation at the initial stage of development of the disease with clearly limited phases of exacerbations and calm. During the lull period, the disease does not progress and complete or partial restoration of impaired functions is possible.
Severe secondary progressive with increasing neurological symptoms, with steady progression of the disease and the absence of periods of calm.
Malignant primary progressive. It is characterized by continuous progression from the very beginning of the disease, with a weak response to therapeutic therapy.

Treatment of multiple sclerosis, drugs

Until recently, treatment methods for multiple sclerosis were limited to symptomatic therapy, since the disease was considered incurable.

It was not difficult to predict the behavior of multiple sclerosis and how long patients would live with it with this treatment. In the best case, with a late onset of the disease and timely initiation of symptomatic therapy, a good prognostic sign was 35 years.

The main goal of symptomatic treatment is aimed at improving the patient's condition and prolonging periods of remission. For this purpose the following are assigned:

Short courses (up to five days) of hormone therapy.
Corticosteroid drugs "Panangin" and "Asparkam".
Drugs that eliminate the harmful effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa - in the form of enveloping agents “Omeprazole”, “Loseka”, “Omeza”, “Ortanol” and “Ultopa”.
With intensive progression of symptoms, use an immunosuppressive drug from the Mitoxanthone group.
To relieve exacerbations and prevent them, interferon drugs - Avonex and Rebif - are prescribed.
Among antidepressants and tranquilizers, drugs or analogues of “Cipramil”, “Amitriptyline”, “Fluoxetine”, “Phenozepam”, “Baclosan” are prescribed.
For dysuric disorders - drugs “Proserina”, “Detrusital”, “Amitroptyline”.
Epileptic pain is relieved with Gebapentin, Finlepsin or Lyrica.
Vitamin therapy includes vitamin complexes, nootropics, antioxidants and enterosorbents.
Reducing the severity of symptoms is achieved by prescribing a drug that stops the destructive effect of the myelin sheath - Copaxone.

Since the beginning of 2003 In medicine, a new direction in the treatment of multiple sclerosis has officially appeared - cell therapy. This method, using grown patient stem cells, is able to restore the tissue of the membrane of neurons and regenerate brain cells damaged by fibrosis. At the same time, eliminating scar formations.

A positive effect is achieved even with a long-term pathological process (more than seven years).

Impulse conductivity is restored, many damaged functions of the central nervous system are eliminated. With the introduction of stem cell-based techniques into treatment therapy, MS patients have a chance to live a long, fulfilling life.

Pulmonary hypertension - symptoms by degree, treatment...

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease based on demyelination of nerve fibers. The peculiarity of this disease is that it is associated with a malfunction of the immune system, as a result of which the spinal cord and brain are affected. The disease manifests itself in the form of disorders associated with coordination, vision, and sensitivity.

If you do not pay attention to the standard signs in time, the disease will progress. The consequences are disability, the inability to make rational and effective decisions, both at work and in everyday affairs.

What kind of disease is multiple sclerosis? Why does it often develop at a young age and what are the first symptoms characteristic of it at an early stage in women and men? We will consider further in the article.

Multiple sclerosis: what is it?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system with a chronic course, characterized by the destruction of myelin fibers and ultimately leading to disability. In multiple sclerosis, the white matter of the brain and spinal cord is affected in the form of multiple, scattered sclerotic plaques, which is why it is also called multifocal.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. In this condition, the body “sees” some of its own tissues as foreign (in particular the myelin sheath that covers most nerve fibers) and fights them with the help of antibodies. Antibodies attack the myelin and destroy it, leaving the nerve fibers “naked.”

At this stage, the first symptoms begin to appear, which then only begin to progress.

It has nothing to do with senile insanity or memory loss. Sclerosis means a scar of connective tissue, and disseminated means multiple.

Causes

The cause of multiple sclerosis still remains unclear. It is believed that the prerequisite for the formation of the disease is the characteristics of the set of genes that control the immune response. This factor is already superimposed on all sorts of external causes, which ultimately leads to the development of the disease.

Various causative factors, both external and internal, can increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier:

back and head injuries;
physical and mental stress;
stress;
operations.

Nutritional features, such as a large proportion of animal fats and proteins in the diet, have a significant impact on biochemical and immunological reactions in the central nervous system, forming a risk factor in the development of pathology.

There are risk factors that can trigger the development of multiple sclerosis:

A certain area of residence or insufficient production of vitamin D. More often, multiple sclerosis affects people whose place of residence is located far from the equator;
Stressful situations, strong neuropsychic stress;
Excessive smoking;
Low uric acid levels;
Received hepatitis B vaccine;
Diseases caused by viruses or bacteria.

Signs of sclerosis

The first signs of multiple sclerosis are nonspecific and often go unnoticed by both the patient and the doctor. In most patients, the onset of the disease is manifested by symptoms of pathology in one system, and later others become involved. Throughout the disease, exacerbations alternate with periods of complete or relative well-being

The first sign of multiple sclerosis appears at the age of 20-30 years. But there are cases when multiple sclerosis manifests itself both at an older age and in children. According to statistics: women appear more often than men.

Signs of multiple sclerosis according to frequency of manifestation are presented in the table.

Symptoms	%	Type of pelvic disorder	%
Paralysis of facial muscles	1	Intermittent urination	42
Epilepsy	1	Sudden urges	43
Impotence	1	Feeling of incomplete emptying	48
Myokymia (eyelid twitching)	1	Urinary incontinence	48
Unsteadiness of gait, unsteadiness when walking	1	Difficulty urinating	48
decline cognitive activity, dementia	2	Predominance of nocturnal urine output above daytime	62
Decreased vision	2
Pain	3
Sudden pain when tilting your head sensation of current passing through the spine	3
Urinary dysfunction	4
Dizziness	6
Ataxia - loss of coordination of movement	11
Diplopia - double vision of visible objects	15
Paresthesia - goosebumps, numbness of the skin	24
Weakness	35
	36
Decreased sensitivity	37

Classification

Classification of multiple sclerosis by localization of the process:

The cerebrospinal form - statistically more often diagnosed - is distinguished by the fact that foci of demyelination are located in both the brain and spinal cord already at the onset of the disease.
Cerebral form - according to the localization of the process, it is divided into cerebellar, brainstem, ocular and cortical, in which different symptoms are observed.
Spinal form - the name reflects the location of the lesion in the spinal cord.

The following types are distinguished:

Primary progressive- characteristic constant deterioration of the condition. Seizures may be mild or not pronounced. Symptoms include problems with walking, speaking, seeing, urinating, and bowel movements.
Secondary progressive form characterized by a gradual increase in symptoms. The appearance of signs of multiple sclerosis can be traced after a cold or inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. Increased demyelination can also be observed against the background of bacterial infections, leading to increased immunity.
relapsing-remitting. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation followed by remission. During remission, complete recovery of the affected organs and tissues is possible. Does not progress over time. It occurs quite often and practically does not lead to disability.
relapsing-remitting progressive Multiple sclerosis is characterized by a sharp increase in symptoms during periods of attacks, starting from the early stages of the disease.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Signs of the development of multiple sclerosis depend on where the focus of demyelination is localized. Therefore, symptoms vary from patient to patient and are often unpredictable. It is never possible to simultaneously detect the entire complex of symptoms in one patient at once.

Consider the main symptoms of multiple sclerosis:

Fatigue appears;
Decreased memory quality
Mental performance weakens;
Unreasonable dizziness appears;
Plunging into depression;
Frequent mood changes;
Involuntary vibrations of high frequencies appear in the eyes;
Inflammation of the optic nerve appears;
Surrounding objects begin to appear double or completely blurred;
Speech deteriorates;
When eating food, difficulty swallowing occurs;
Spasms may appear;
Disorders of movement and hand motor skills;
Periodic pain, numbness of the limbs appears and the sensitivity of the body gradually decreases;
The patient may suffer from diarrhea or constipation;
Urinary incontinence;
Frequent urge to go to the toilet or lack thereof.

In approximately 90% of patients, the disease has an undulating course. This means that periods of exacerbation are followed by remissions. However, after seven to ten years of the disease, secondary progression develops when the condition begins to worsen. In 5-10% of cases, the disease is characterized by a primarily progressive course.

Multiple sclerosis in women

Signs of multiple sclerosis in women are expected when the immune system is too weakened. The body's filters and cells that are unable to resist infection give up, so the immune system destroys the myelin sheath of neurons, which consists of neuroglial cells.

As a result, nerve impulses are transmitted more slowly through neurons, causing not only the first symptoms, but also serious consequences - impaired vision, memory, and consciousness.

Sexual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis in women develops as a result of sexual dysfunction. This symptom is formed directly following the pathology of urination. Occurs in 70% of women and 90% of men.

Some women experience the following symptoms of multiple sclerosis:

Inability to achieve orgasm;
Insufficient lubrication;
Pain during intercourse;
Impaired sensitivity of the genitals;
High tone of the adductor femoral muscles.

According to statistics: women are several times more likely to suffer from multiple sclerosis than men, but they tolerate the disease much easier.

Typically, the classic course of MS is characterized by an increase in the severity of clinical manifestations, which lasts 2-3 years to produce detailed symptoms in the form of:

Paresis (loss of function) of the lower extremities;
Registration of pathological foot reflexes (positive Babinsky sign, Rossolimo);
Noticeable unsteadiness of gait. Subsequently, patients generally lose the ability to move independently;
Increasing severity of trembling (the patient is unable to perform a finger-to-nose test - to reach the tip of the nose with the index finger, and a knee-heel test);
Reduction and disappearance of abdominal reflexes.

From all of the above, it becomes clear that all initial manifestations of multiple sclerosis are very nonspecific. Many symptoms may be a sign of another disease (for example, increased reflexes in neurotic conditions or cramps in calcium metabolism disorders) or even a variant of the norm (muscle weakness after work).

Exacerbation

Multiple sclerosis has a very large number of symptoms; one patient may experience only one of them or several at once. It occurs with periods of exacerbations and remissions.

Any factors can provoke an exacerbation of the disease:

acute viral diseases,
injuries,
stress,
error in diet,
alcohol abuse,
hypothermia or overheating, etc.

The duration of periods of remission can be more than ten years, the patient leads a normal lifestyle and feels absolutely healthy. But the disease does not disappear; sooner or later a new exacerbation will definitely occur.

The range of symptoms of multiple sclerosis is quite wide:

from slight numbness in the arm or staggering when walking to enuresis,
paralysis,
blindness and difficulty breathing.

It happens that after the first exacerbation the disease does not manifest itself in any way for the next 10, or even 20 years, the person feels completely healthy. But the disease subsequently takes its toll, and an exacerbation occurs again.

Diagnostics

When the first symptoms of brain or nerve dysfunction appear, you should consult a neurologist. Doctors use special diagnostic criteria to determine multiple sclerosis:

The presence of signs of multiple focal lesions of the central nervous system - the white matter of the brain and spinal cord;
Progressive development of the disease with the gradual addition of various symptoms;
Instability of symptoms;
progressive nature of the disease.

immune system research;
biochemical tests;
MRI of the brain and spine (shows accumulation of plaques);
CT scan of the brain and spine (shows foci of inflammation);
electromyography (for finding pathologies in the organs of vision and hearing);
diagnosis by an ophthalmologist (for examination for myopathy).

After all the necessary tests and studies, the doctor will make a diagnosis, on the basis of which treatment will be prescribed.

Treatment of multiple sclerosis

Patients in whom the disease is diagnosed for the first time are usually hospitalized in the neurological department of the hospital for a detailed examination and treatment. Treatment is selected individually, depending on the severity and symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis is currently considered incurable. However, people are shown symptomatic therapy, which can improve the patient’s quality of life. He is prescribed hormonal medications and drugs to enhance immunity. Sanatorium-resort treatment has a positive effect on the condition of such people. All these measures can increase the time of remission.

Drugs that help change the course of the disease:

drugs from the group of steroid hormones - this type of drug is used for exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, their use can reduce the duration of the period of its exacerbation;
immunomodulators - with their help, the symptoms characteristic of multiple sclerosis are weakened and the time period of exacerbations increases;
immunosuppressants (drugs that suppress immunity) - their use is dictated by the need to influence the immune system, which damages myelin during periods of exacerbation of the disease.

Symptomatic treatment is used to relieve specific symptoms of the disease. The following drugs can be used:

Mydocalm, sirdalud - reduce muscle tone with central paresis;
Prozerin, galantamine - for urination disorders;
Sibazon, phenazepam - reduce tremor, as well as neurotic symptoms;
Fluoxetine, paroxetine - for depressive disorders;
Finlepsin, antelepsin - used to eliminate seizures;
Cerebrolysin, nootropil, glycine, B vitamins, glutamic acid are used in courses to improve the functioning of the nervous system.

A patient with multiple sclerosis will benefit from therapeutic massage. This will improve blood circulation and speed up all processes in the problem area. Massage will relieve muscle pain, spasms and improve coordination. However, this therapy is contraindicated in osteoporosis.

Acupuncture is also used to alleviate the patient's condition and speed up recovery. Thanks to this procedure, spasms and swelling are relieved, muscle pain is reduced and problems with urinary incontinence are eliminated.

With your doctor's permission you can take:

50 mg vitamin thiamine twice daily and 50 mg B-complex;
500 mg of natural vitamin C 2-4 times a day;
folic acid in combination with B-complex;
Twice a year for two months they take thioctic acid - an endogenous antioxidant that is involved in carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

Traditional methods of treating multiple sclerosis:

5 g of mumiyo is dissolved in 100 ml of boiled chilled water, taken on an empty stomach, a teaspoon three times a day.
Mix 200 g of honey with 200 g of onion juice, consume one hour before meals 3 times a day.
Honey and onions. You need to grate the onion and squeeze the juice out of it (you can use a juicer). A glass of juice should be mixed with a glass of natural honey. This mixture should be taken three times a day an hour before meals.

Prognosis for multiple sclerosis

About 20% of patients are faced with a benign form of multiple sclerosis, the course of which is characterized by a slight progression of symptoms after the onset of the initial attack of the disease or no progression at all. This allows patients to fully maintain their ability to work.

Many patients, unfortunately, are faced with a malignant form of the disease, as a result of which the deterioration of their condition occurs steadily and quickly, subsequently leading to severe disability and sometimes death.

Patients often die from infections (urosepsis,) called intercurrent. In other cases, the cause of death is bulbar disorders, in which swallowing, chewing, and the function of the respiratory or cardiovascular system are affected, and pseudobulbar disorders, which are also accompanied by impaired swallowing, facial expressions, speech, and intellect, but cardiac activity and breathing are not affected.

Prevention

Prevention of multiple sclerosis includes:

Constant physical activity is required. They should be moderate, not debilitating.
If possible, you need to avoid stress and find time to relax. A hobby will help you take your mind off problems.
Cigarettes and alcohol accelerate the destruction of neurons and can cause damage to the immune system.
Monitoring your weight, avoiding strict diets and overeating.
Avoidance of hormonal medications (if possible) and contraceptives.
Refusal of large amounts of fatty foods;
Avoid overheating.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a severe chronic disease with a poor prognosis. Although sclerosis is often colloquially referred to as memory impairment in old age, the name “multiple sclerosis” has nothing to do with senile “sclerosis” or absent-mindedness.

The disease received its name because of a distinctive pathological feature: the presence of scattered foci of damage to the myelin sheath passing around the nerve fibers in the central nervous system. The nerves become exposed and cannot conduct signals. This occurs due to disturbances in the functioning of the immune system. Damage to the myelin sheath leads to a gradual breakdown of the nervous system, which affects the physical and psycho-emotional state of the patient.

Why is multiple sclerosis dangerous?

Multiple sclerosis occurs as a progressive primary autoimmune disease of the central nervous system with a steady deterioration of the pathological process. Unfortunately, it should be noted that multiple sclerosis has a disappointing prognosis for life - the disease is now incurable and its course is unpredictable. Sometimes it proceeds benignly (with exacerbations and remissions), but spasmodic or steady progression of the disease is also possible. Even during remission, there is an active process of damage to nerve cells, and disorders of the immune system continue.

The clinical picture of multiple sclerosis is very extensive and includes the following pathological disorders:

a sharp decrease in visual acuity and field of vision, color vision disturbances;
disturbances in the movement of the eyeball, pupillary disorders;
Sensory disturbances – numbness or tingling in the hands and feet;
pain syndromes;
movement disorders - muscle weakness, muscle spasticity, lack of coordination;
swallowing disorders;
dizziness;
dysfunction of the pelvic organs - urination, defecation, sexual activity;
mental disorders;
fatigue;
a complex of functional disorders caused by impaired regulation of vascular tone;
disturbances in sleep, level of consciousness and wakefulness.

The causes of multiple sclerosis are not clear. Treatment of the disease is one of the most serious problems of modern medicine, since there is no medicine that would cure the disease completely. Therapy is aimed at relieving the severity of exacerbations of the pathology, stopping its neurological symptoms and strengthening the immune system.

When treating a disease, it is of great importance how it manifests itself - aggressively or more gradually. The aggressive course of multiple sclerosis requires the use of strong drugs that develop many side effects.

Multiple sclerosis inevitably leads the patient to disability. The disease usually affects young people, and in recent years new cases of the disease have been increasingly registered in children, adolescents, and young women.

Mechanism of disease development

The development of multiple sclerosis occurs on the basis of three main pathological processes:

an inflamed reaction in the central nervous system;
damage to the myelin sheath that runs around the nerve fibers of the central or peripheral nervous system - demyelination;
progressive death of nerve cells.

Plaque formation (inflammation) mainly occurs in the white matter. The process of their formation is especially active in the posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord, in the pons, in the cerebellum and optic nerves. It is at these moments that a new symptom of pathology appears or existing signs of the disease clearly worsen. The frequency of exacerbation (attack) of the disease is associated with this pathological process.

The destruction of the myelin sheath alternates with stages of remission - the process of myelin restoration. At this time, the patient's condition is clearly improving. A remission that lasts more than a month is already defined as persistent.

However, even when the myelin sheath is restored in the initial stages of plaque formation, this process is not efficient enough. Therefore, in the later stages of pathology, restoration of the myelin sheath is weakly expressed. This worsens common symptoms of neurological deficits (neurological symptoms). Chronic progression of multiple sclerosis begins: the severity of symptoms increases over several weeks without stabilization or improvement.

At-risk groups

The disease affects people of all ages. Women get sick more often. However, men suffer from the most dangerous, rapidly progressive form. With this disease, several parts of the nervous system are simultaneously affected, which is characterized by the appearance of various neurological disorders. The first signs of the disease include: a feeling of numbness or aches. These symptoms may appear, then pass and not appear for a long time.

The plaques vary in size, from a few millimeters to a centimeter or more. If the disease progresses, they join together, forming large scars. Special examination methods make it possible to identify new and old lesions in the same patient, since the process does not stop, but only subsides for a while, then resumes again.

Multiple sclerosis affects a fairly large number of people. According to statistics, there are more than 2 million such patients on our planet. The largest number of such patients live in large cities. In Russia in 2016, 150 thousand patients were registered. When studying the epidemiology of the disease in Moscow, it was found that the onset of multiple sclerosis before the age of 16 was observed in 5.66% of people.
The geographic latitude of the place of residence is also important. The incidence rate is highest in those who live north of the 30th parallel. This is typical for residents of all continents.

Belonging to a certain race also matters. People of the Caucasian race are more often exposed to this disease than residents of Asian countries: China, Japan, Korea.

Recently, the number of people suffering from multiple sclerosis has been increasing. This is happening both due to an increase in the number of sick people, and also due to the modernization of diagnostic equipment.

Is multiple sclerosis inherited?

Years of research have supported the theory that there is a genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis. It is determined by a set of genes, both related and not related to the immune response (this depends on what ethnic group the sick person belongs to). Hereditary factors can determine the characteristic clinical form of multiple sclerosis and the progression of the disease.

There is an assumption that in Europeans the disease is associated with a set of the DR2 gene form on the sixth chromosome. This association turned out to be most significant when examining cases of pathology with an early onset of the disease, that is, before the age of 16 years.

The hereditary factor of multiple sclerosis is often combined with external causes. Of particular importance for the formation of a provoking background in the development of the disease in a child are:

frequent infectious diseases, especially viral ones, as well as mycoplasmas, staphylococci, streptococci, spirochete pallidum, fungi;
psycho-emotional stress;
Vitamin D deficiency, as it can suppress reactions associated with a disorder of the body's immune system.

High levels of vitamin D in the blood reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis in Europeans.

Causes

It has not yet been possible to establish what causes multiple sclerosis. Scientists suggest that multiple sclerosis occurs from the random coincidence of several factors harmful to health:

infections of various etiologies;
poisoning;
radiation (including solar);
poor nutrition;
frequent stress.

Multiple sclerosis is not inherited, but genetic dependence is of great importance. Not always, but often observed in close relatives.

How does multiple sclerosis manifest? What are the signs?

In the early stages, the disease may not manifest itself even in the presence of plaques in the brain. This happens because if a small number of nerve fibers are affected, then healthy ones completely compensate for their function. As the pathological process spreads, neurological symptoms also appear. The clinic depends on the location and degree of damage to the patient’s brain tissue.

At first, the disease is unstable. Symptoms may appear, last for a period of time, then go away and reappear. Over time, periods of remission become shorter, then disappear completely, and the intensity of painful phenomena increases. Functional impairment depends on where the scars are located, which impede the passage of nerve impulses. Most often, patients are concerned about:

causeless fatigue;
frequent weakness;
visual acuity decreases, double vision appears, then partial or complete paralysis of the ocular or facial nerves may occur;
feeling of numbness or tingling;
tremor or trembling in the limbs;
muscle weakness;
gait becomes unstable;
tactile sensitivity decreases in 60% of patients;
retention of urination and stool appears, followed by incontinence;
sexual function decreases;
in the early stages there are frequent changes in mood, which leads to conflicts with others, then depression, behavioral disturbances and decreased intelligence;
some patients may experience pain - headache, back or limbs;
eventually partial or complete paralysis occurs.

Several syndromes, which are also signs of the disease, help doctors diagnose the disease:

“Hot bath” syndrome in multiple sclerosis is the most common. It manifests itself as a deterioration of the condition, an increase in neurological symptoms, especially motor and visual disturbances after a bath, a hot bath, or with an increase in ambient temperature.
“Clinical splitting” syndrome is a manifestation of a discrepancy between the symptoms of damage to certain systems. For example, blanching of the optic discs, narrowing of the visual fields with normal visual acuity and, conversely, a significant decrease in vision with normal fundus. Or a spastic gait with weak muscle tone when lying down.
Syndrome of “inconstancy of clinical signs” - the severity of neurological manifestations fluctuates over the course of a day or several days.

Clinicians call an atypical sign of the disease pain that is associated with impaired muscle tone, painful muscle spasms, sensitivity disorders, associated changes in the spine and joints, and concomitant diseases.

The signs of multiple sclerosis are individual for each patient. It depends on which parts of the central nervous system are affected and on the depth of the damage. The appearance of new neurological symptoms or the intensification of already manifested symptoms indicates an exacerbation of multiple sclerosis.

Diagnosis of the disease

Until recently, the time when the diagnosis of “multiple sclerosis” would be correctly established was not of decisive importance, since treatment had no effect on the course of the disease. Now the situation has changed dramatically: early diagnosis is of fundamental importance. This is due to the fact that immunomodulatory drugs have been found that have a positive effect on the course of the disease and slow down the progression of multiple sclerosis.

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can reduce the likelihood of developing disability and provide a good prognosis for the patient, who can maintain his social activities, family life, remain a full-fledged member of society.

Unfortunately, modern medicine does not have specific tests and methods for examining multiple sclerosis. Diagnosis is difficult and is based on the clinical picture, the patient’s complaints, the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and studies of the cerebrospinal fluid, which also reveals characteristic changes for this disease.

Magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most effective modern methods examinations to detect changes in the brain and spinal cord that are characteristic of multiple sclerosis. This research technique allows you to obtain a clear image of the structures of the brain and spinal cord and describe the extent of their damage by the pathological process.

Foci of demyelination (active plaques) have a characteristic shape and location. The size of the lesions, as a rule, is 1–5 mm, but sometimes due to fusion and swelling they reach 10 mm. “Fresh” lesions of the brain have an uneven, unclear outline. The most typical locations for lesions are along the lateral ventricles, in the corpus callosum. Foci of damage to the spinal cord can also be identified.

Variants of the course of the disease

Multiple sclerosis as a disease has a varied course. If a patient has minimal neurological symptoms for more than ten years, the disease is defined as mild, non-aggressive. If during the first five years there are frequent exacerbations with residual symptoms or rapid progression leading to complete helplessness of patients, such multiple sclerosis is defined as malignant.

Clinical forms of the disease are based on how multiple sclerosis occurs:

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

An undulating course of the disease with periods of deterioration and improvement. It occurs with exacerbations and remissions, complete or incomplete restoration of functions in the periods between exacerbations. During periods of remission there is no increase in symptoms. This is a classic version of the disease.

As a rule, over time, remissions are observed less frequently and in the majority of patients they enter the stage of secondary progression of the pathological process.

Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

A gradual increase in symptoms with rare exacerbations (or without them). There are periods of stabilization. After 15–20 years from the onset of the disease, almost all patients become disabled. But about 50% of patients can care for themselves.

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Steadily progressive increase in neurological disorders from the very beginning of the disease, without exacerbations and remissions. In a quarter of patients, the condition worsens every year. After 25 years of the disease, almost all patients have problems with self-care. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis of this form is 10–15% of cases.

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis with exacerbations.

A progressive increase in neurological symptoms from the very beginning of the disease, against the background of which exacerbations occur. A rare form of the disease, observed in 3–5% of cases.

The main indicators of the course of the disease are the presence and frequency of clinically detectable exacerbations and the rate of increase in neurological symptoms.

Treatment of exacerbations of multiple sclerosis

The goal of treating multiple sclerosis is to make the course of the disease milder, the remissions to be long-lasting, and the neurological impairments to be less severe. It is important to help the patient maintain his ability to work, delay the onset of disability, helplessness in everyday life, and reduce the severity of disability.

Exacerbation of the disease is assessed according to three parameters: how often, how long and how severe the clinical symptoms are. An MRI is performed to identify hyperintense lesions of nerve cells.

To treat exacerbation of the disease, hormonal therapy is carried out with methylprednisolone, a synthetic glucocorticoid drug. When taking medications from this group, the following side effects may develop:

the occurrence of gastritis, stomach ulcers;
high blood pressure;
disturbance of water-electrolyte metabolism, excretion of potassium salts;
increased intraocular pressure, development of steroid cataracts;
activation and accession of infections;
reactivation of the tuberculosis process is possible;
mental disorders - anxiety, sleep disorders, emotional changes, steroid psychoses;
increased levels of glucose in the blood, urine, manifestation of latent diabetes mellitus, steroid diabetes;
, aseptic necrosis of the femoral neck with long-term use;
disturbance of heart rhythm when prescribing high doses.

To correct the side effects of corticosteroids, a diet rich in potassium, medications containing potassium and calcium, diuretics, and drugs that protect the gastric mucosa are simultaneously prescribed. Monitoring blood pressure, blood glucose, and electrocardiogram monitoring is also necessary.

Contraindications for corticosteroid therapy are:

significant increase in blood pressure;
diabetes mellitus with high blood glucose levels;
pulmonary tuberculosis;
the presence of any other infectious process;
the presence of erosive gastritis or gastric ulcer.

In this regard, all patients, before prescribing hormonal therapy, need to conduct a blood glucose test, chest x-ray and gastroscopy (endoscopic examination of the digestive tube).

Hormonal pulse therapy not only stops exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, but also slows down the progression of the disease. In case of severe exacerbations, plasmapheresis is indicated - a blood purification procedure.

The second direction of treatment of the disease is immunocorrective therapy. It is aimed at reducing the frequency of exacerbations. Medicines that modify the course of multiple sclerosis include beta interferons (immunomodulators) and glatiramer acetate. The inflammatory process is limited by immunoglobulin G, used in high doses intravenously. The main problem with treatment with drugs that affect the frequency of exacerbations and the rate of progression is that they are expensive.

The third direction of treatment of the disease is symptomatic treatment: treatment of increased muscle tone, damage to the optic nerve, pain syndromes, urinary incontinence, disorders of the large intestine, decreased potency in men and other signs of the disease.

If patients have persistent movement disorders, they may require rehabilitation measures aimed at reducing spasticity in the limbs, improving coordination or fine motor skills in the presence of tremors or weakness in the arms.

Patients with multiple sclerosis especially require regular psychological support due to the difficult process of accepting the diagnosis and the emotional disorders that arise during the progression of the disease. Therefore, psychotherapy is indicated at all stages of the disease.

Multiple sclerosis: disease prognosis

In half of patients, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis develops into a secondary progressive form of the disease after 10 years. After 25 years, almost all patients receive little help from treatment.

If there is no supportive treatment, over 15 years of disease development, 80% of patients have organ dysfunction, 70 percent of patients find it difficult to care for themselves, and half of the patients cannot move independently.

Autonomic disorders are detected in 80% of patients:

constant moderate decrease in body temperature;
dizziness, high blood pressure;
sweating disorders;
during an exacerbation of the disease, cardiac arrhythmia develops;
reduced physical activity forms osteoporosis;
respiratory dysfunction - shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air, difficulty coughing, prolonged hiccups.

With multiple sclerosis in children, secondary progression of the disease occurs after about 30 years. The quality of life of adolescents is worsened by depressive states, chronic fatigue, and anxiety.

The outcomes and prognosis of the disease depend on the timeliness of diagnosis and the initiation of adequate treatment of the disease with drugs that modify the course of multiple sclerosis. Medicines slow down the increase in disability.

Research into the cause of multiple sclerosis, the course of the disease, and the search for drugs to treat it are being carried out very actively. The time is approaching when ways will be found to prevent secondary progression of the disease. The treatment of multiple sclerosis will change dramatically. Treatment will be aimed at influencing the mechanisms of the onset and development of the disease.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath of the nerves in the spinal cord and brain. Nervous tissue is replaced by connective tissue. The consequence will be muscle weakness and, ultimately, paralysis. Life expectancy depends on the rate of progression of the disease.

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The site provides reference information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible under the supervision of a conscientious doctor. Any drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required, as well as detailed study of the instructions! .

More than 150 thousand people in Russia suffer from this disease. They get sick at an early age, from 15 to 40 years. Cases of the disease have been reported at earlier ages. After 40-50 years there is no chance of getting sick.

This disease has nothing to do with senile insanity or memory loss. Sclerosis refers to a scar of connective tissue, and multiple sclerosis refers to multiple scars.

Causes of sclerosis

The exact reasons for the development of the disease have not yet been identified; there are assumptions about this.

Genetic factors include a specific combination of genes that cause a disorder in the body's immune system.

There are also non-genetic factors. This may be stress, unfavorable living environment, poor nutrition, bacteriological or infectious diseases, smoking, frequent injuries, exposure to radiation, ultraviolet radiation.

The cause of the development of sclerosis may be a certain combination of external and internal factors that caused this disease.

It has been proven that this is not a hereditary disease; the risk of getting sick increases if there are such patients in the family. But the transmission rate from parents to children is only 2-10%.

There are risk factors that can trigger the development of multiple sclerosis:

A certain area of residence or insufficient production of vitamin D. More often, sclerosis affects people whose place of residence is located far from the equator. These are northern areas with insufficient sunlight. In such people, vitamin D is not produced in sufficient quantities and can cause the development of sclerosis;
Stress, severe neuropsychic tension;
Excessive smoking;
Low uric acid levels;
Received hepatitis B vaccine;
Diseases caused by viruses or bacteria.

Symptoms of disease development

There are many symptoms of sclerosis. Some number about 50. Rarely the disease is diagnosed in the initial stage. Each person has their own manifestations, and it is impossible to predict further progression.

Reduced visual acuity up to blindness (possibly decreased in one eye);
Color vision impairment;
Impaired coordination of eye movements;
Double vision;
Dizziness;
Spasm of the muscles of the arms or legs, worsens when walking;
Trembling of fingers and hands, intensifies when performing small movements (fastening a button);
Loss of coordination, unsteadiness when walking;
Unexplained pain in the arms or legs;
Excessive fatigue throughout the day,
Numbness in the arms or legs;
Slurred speech;
Memory loss, decreased concentration;
Depression;
Involuntary urination;
Violation of sexual desire;
Increased symptoms at elevated ambient temperatures.

Diagnosis of the disease and observation

The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is made after detecting 2 foci of sclerosis in the brain or spinal cord. The onset of symptoms should recur within 24 hours, and a stable deterioration of the condition should be observed for 6 months.

To identify foci of sclerosis, magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed. It allows you to see the location of the scars. During an exacerbation of symptoms, the doctor will not see the presence of foci of sclerosis; they take time to develop.

MRI is prescribed once a year, and if necessary, 2 times a year, to monitor the situation.

In addition to MRI, an immunoglobulin test may be prescribed. Their quantity is important in the cerebrospinal fluid. It is necessary to constantly monitor the state of the immune system.

Electromyography and the evoked potential method are no less accurate than MRI examinations. These studies help to accurately determine the location of scar formation and the extent of the lesion.

Cerebrospinal sclerosis, disability

There are 2 types of multiple sclerosis: cerebral, when the lesion affects only the nerve fibers of the brain, and spinal, when the fibers of the spinal cord are affected. There are people whose lesions affect the spinal cord and brain.

There are several types of sclerosis. Disability depends on the type of course.

Remitting sclerosis. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation of the disease, which are followed by remission. During remission, complete recovery of the affected organs and tissues is possible. Does not progress over time. Occurs frequently and does not lead to disability.
Benign. It begins suddenly, with many severe attacks. The peculiarity of benign sclerosis is that the symptoms gradually weaken, and the damaged organs are given more and more time to recover. The type of disease is considered curable.
Primary progressive. The deterioration of the condition begins with the first symptom. Quickly leads to loss of ability to work and further disability.
Secondarily progressive. The deterioration is gradual, but within 5 years it will steadily lead to disability.

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Treatment, prevention

There are no drugs that could cure sclerosis. But there are procedures and medications that can make the patient feel better. These drugs include immunosuppressants, which suppress the effect of immunostimulants.

The use of plasmapheresis in combination with corticosteroids has a positive effect in treatment.

Don't forget the importance of prevention. By following a few simple rules, you can delay the disease or reduce further symptoms, or avoid it altogether.

Proper, balanced nutrition
To give up smoking
Maintaining normal weight
Limited use of hormonal drugs
Reduce stress

Prevention and treatment include physical therapy, which should be prescribed by a doctor; doing exercises on your own can only aggravate the problem.

Since sclerosis is incurable, the prognosis is not favorable.

It has been proven that death occurs due to concomitant diseases: diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hypertension.

The lifespan and its quality depend on the age at which the processes of sclerosis of nerve fibers began and at what speed this process progresses.

It cannot be said that these people are already living disabled people or vegetables. Yes, their condition will worsen over time, but family support, proper treatment, and regular movements will help prolong life and not make a person helpless and disabled.

Childbirth with illness and contraindications

There are no contraindications to the birth of a child, its feeding, or its further education.
IN recent months It is worth visiting a doctor regularly for consultation.
It is recommended to agree to hospitalization to save the life of the baby and mother.

In severe forms of the disease, especially with paralysis of the lower extremities, it is worth consulting with a doctor about further childbirth.

There are some restrictions that you should adhere to:

Taking interferon, immunomodulators and other drugs that stimulate the body’s immune system is strictly prohibited;
Fasting, dieting, and increased physical activity have a debilitating effect on the body and can worsen symptoms;
Visits to baths, saunas, and resorts with hot climates should be limited; increased temperatures have a negative effect on the course of the disease.

Diagnostic methods of pathology

To a greater extent, the diagnosis of sclerosis is based on neurological symptoms, but the following are considered auxiliary methods for making a diagnosis:

Carrying out a general blood test. Leukocyte formula: a decrease in the number of leukocytes and lymphocytes will be observed, although in the acute stage there may be lymphocytosis and eosinophilia.
Coagulogram. There will be an increased level of platelet aggregation, an increase in fibrinogen with activation of fibrinolysis.
Blood chemistry. There will be a decrease in the amount of proteins, amino acids, and cortisol in the blood plasma. At the same time, lipoproteins and phospholipids will be increased.
Immunological testing of blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. In the resulting fluid from the spinal canal, the predominance of the amount of immunosuppressive, autoimmune components will be determined.
Study of venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid to determine the presence of oligoclonal immunoglobulins, because they are markers of sclerosis.
Measurement of evoked potentials. In other words, this study is also called measuring the electrical activity of the brain. Basically, 3 diagnostic methods and studies are used:

Auditory potentials;
Visual potentials;
Sensorimotor potentials.

To conduct this, electrodes are attached to the skin of the patient's head and connected to an electroencephalograph. The device records brain reactions to incoming signals that arise as a result of the action of various stimuli.

The doctor must evaluate these findings, because a slow brain reaction will confirm the presence of brain lesions.

SPEMS. The diagnostic method is the latest and is carried out using a superposition electromagnetic scanner.

It is possible to diagnose the disease in the initial stages, even in the absence of clinical manifestations. It allows you to obtain indicators of the spectrum of enzyme activity, neurotransmitter activity and the level of demyelination. Establishing a diagnosis using this method alone is impossible.

Treatment with plasmapheresis

WITH therapeutic purpose for sclerosis, a method such as plasmapheresis is often used. The method is similar to dialysis. Its use makes it possible to separate blood cells from plasma. More often prescribed in cases of severe disease or lack of effect from treatment with drugs that were administered intravenously into the body.

With the correct, timely administration of this procedure, rapid relief of edema and the inflammatory process is observed. One more the positive side Such therapy is considered to be a drug-free method, because the patient’s body is too overloaded with medications.

It has been proven that plasmapheresis helps get rid of intoxication, sometimes completely, and achieve stable remission, which cannot be said about drug treatment.

After therapeutic measures using plasmapheresis, patients experienced an improvement in well-being, vision, muscle strength appeared, and pathological disorders in the functioning of the pelvic organs decreased.

Therapeutic massage and exercise

Before starting a course of exercise therapy you must:

Explain to the patient that it is impossible to work through force or overwork. If you feel even a slight feeling of fatigue, you should stop exercising. It is necessary to allocate 15 minutes for therapeutic exercises 2-3 times a day. All exercises should be done slowly, active exercises should be replaced by relaxing ones.
Select exercises in accordance with his condition and symptoms. This nuance must be paid attention to when selecting the starting position.
The set of exercises must be selected so that all muscle groups are involved. There should be exercises for coordination and precision of movements, and balance.

Therapeutic massage should be short. Intermittent vibration should not be used. The course of such a massage should be 25-20 sessions of 20-25 minutes each. Such courses must be completed 4 in 12 months.

Each patient must have a special approach, because different neurological manifestations may be observed. The back, paravertebral, gluteal region, and limbs are massaged.

Weakened muscles of the arms and legs need to be toned, stroking, and not prolonged kneading.

Spasmed muscles must be relaxed, the massage therapist’s hands should not be cold, movements should be light and smooth. Apply stroking, rubbing, slow kneading, light continuous vibration, and gentle stretching of the muscles. The final stage of the massage should be a barely perceptible stroking.

Massage should be used in combination with thermal procedures.

Exercise therapy includes: drawing, making puzzles, mosaics and construction sets, lacing shoes. The game of “Ladushki” and ball has a remarkable effect.

All these auxiliary treatment methods, except thermal procedures, are allowed to be used during the period of remission.

Patient experience in the treatment of sclerosis

Patients received positive feedback from treatment with Betaferon, Conaxone and Methoxantone together with a single administration of methylprednisolone; pulse therapy with this drug is considered effective. There was an improvement in the condition and a gradual disappearance of neurological symptoms. Plasmapheresis was performed in combination with pulse therapy to reduce side effects the above therapy.

After the treatment, the symptoms of headaches decreased and dizziness disappeared, and pelvic functions were partially restored. The greatest positive changes were observed when these procedures were combined with physical therapy and massage.

In patients with advanced or severe disease, the use of corticosteroids was effective; they had anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing effects.

No matter how sad it may sound, multiple sclerosis is incurable, you can only reduce the symptoms of this disease.

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