Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Question 1

What is MS?

Answer 1

A demyelinating disease where the myelin sheath around nerve axons is destroyed. Causes plaques within the white matter in the brain and spinal cord.

Question 2

Common features?

Answer 2

lack of energy, headache, depression, aches in limbs, sensory disturbance (numbness and paraesthesia), retrobulbar neuritis, limb weakness, diplopia, vertigo, ataxia, sphincter disturbance, behavioural changes.

Question 3

what is sensory disturbance?

Answer 3

Also known as paraesthesia, sensory disturbance is abnormal sensations including numbness, tingling, burning, and increased sensitivity.

Question 4

what is retrobulbar neuritis?

Answer 4

a form of optic neuritis where the optic nerve becomes inflamed, causing blurred or dimmed vision.

Question 5

What is diplopia?

Answer 5

Double vision or seeing double.

Question 6

what is vertigo?

Answer 6

A sensation where it feels like you or the environment around you is moving.

Question 7

what is ataxia?

Answer 7

A group of disorders that affect co-ordination, balance and speech. people with ataxia commonly struggle with walking and speech.

Question 8

what is sphincter disturbance?

Answer 8

where the sphincter muscle doesn’t open as it should, causing a backup of digestive fluids and severe pain in the abdomen.