Specific Affects of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a rare disease where, for unknown reasons, the immune system attacks the myelin sheaths of nerve cells. In this way, MS affects both the immune system and the central nervous system. It is classified as an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. When T-Cells, or infection fighting white blood cells, slip from the blood stream and attack the mylenin coating of nerve cells in the brain, where they do not appear in normal conditions, let alone attack. Without proper insulation, the nerve impulses that usually travel along the axons are disrupted by the lesions, or collected scar tissue where the actual axon has been damaged without the protective myelin. Lesions may block, delay, or even revise the messages being sent throughout the body. When this occurs, many parts of the body can be affected due to a dysfunction of the central nervous system, and vary depending on what nerve cells were diminished. The most affected body parts are the brain and spinal cord, where myelin is the main part of the composition.
Parts of the Body Affected by Multiple Sclerosis
MS is an autoimmune disorder which means it attacks the body as if it was an enemy that it needed protection against. Although MS may not harm all of the body it still affects and impacts the majority of it. The main area of harm caused by MS is in the central nervous system. MS may affect all parts of the body if the signal from the brain is interrupted or changed in the process of travelling to a specific part of the patient. Some examples of the areas of the body can beaffected by MS are a person’s; hands, arms, legs, feet, eyes, hearing, speaking, swallowing, memory, cognitive, bladder control, bowel control, detoxification, immune system, feelings or sensations, and muscle and nerve response.
Hands
- Troubles writing, picking up and/or holding things
- Pain
- Numbness and/or spasms
- If bad enough the patient has the possibility to lose the use of their hand(s)
Arms
- Loss of muscle strength and/or function
- Pain
- Spasms and/or numbness
- If bad enough the patient has the possibility to lose the use of their arm(s)
Feet
- Pain
- Loss of use and/or control
Eyes
- Blurry, conflicts focusing, or the patient sees doubles
- Pain
- Vision may come and go
- Possible loss of use
Hearing
- Ringing
- Hearing may come and go
- Possibility of complete loss of hearing
Speaking
- Stuttering and/or slurring of speech
- Possibility to lose the ability to speak
- May develop dyslexia
Swallowing
- May lose the ability to swallow without choking
Memory
- May come and go randomly
Cognitive
- Develop difficulties connecting with their surroundings
- Lose the ability to think logically
- Conflicts associated with solving problems
- People may have troubles communicating with the patient
Bladder Control
- Loss of control
- Loss of function
- Bladder infections
Bowel Control
- Loss of control
- May develop diarreah often
Detoxification
- Constipation
- Loss of function of liver
- Pain in the intestine
- Nausea after eating
- Complications with allergies
Immune System
- More infections developed
- Conflicts fighting disease
Feelings
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Extreme pain
Muscles and Nerves
- Spasms
- Twitches
- Involuntary movement
Also, since MS creates problems when sending or delivering nerve messages this may also create difficulties considering sexual arousal. For example, vaginal lubrication, erections, and/or ejaculation.
Hands
- Troubles writing, picking up and/or holding things
- Pain
- Numbness and/or spasms
- If bad enough the patient has the possibility to lose the use of their hand(s)
Arms
- Loss of muscle strength and/or function
- Pain
- Spasms and/or numbness
- If bad enough the patient has the possibility to lose the use of their arm(s)
Feet
- Pain
- Loss of use and/or control
Eyes
- Blurry, conflicts focusing, or the patient sees doubles
- Pain
- Vision may come and go
- Possible loss of use
Hearing
- Ringing
- Hearing may come and go
- Possibility of complete loss of hearing
Speaking
- Stuttering and/or slurring of speech
- Possibility to lose the ability to speak
- May develop dyslexia
Swallowing
- May lose the ability to swallow without choking
Memory
- May come and go randomly
Cognitive
- Develop difficulties connecting with their surroundings
- Lose the ability to think logically
- Conflicts associated with solving problems
- People may have troubles communicating with the patient
Bladder Control
- Loss of control
- Loss of function
- Bladder infections
Bowel Control
- Loss of control
- May develop diarreah often
Detoxification
- Constipation
- Loss of function of liver
- Pain in the intestine
- Nausea after eating
- Complications with allergies
Immune System
- More infections developed
- Conflicts fighting disease
Feelings
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Extreme pain
Muscles and Nerves
- Spasms
- Twitches
- Involuntary movement
Also, since MS creates problems when sending or delivering nerve messages this may also create difficulties considering sexual arousal. For example, vaginal lubrication, erections, and/or ejaculation.