Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive illness that affects the nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the central nervous system. MS is an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s immune system targets itself, attacking cells, tissues and organs. If you have multiple sclerosis, you’re not alone. MS affects over 400,000 people in the United States and may affect 2.5 million people worldwide. Multiple sclerosis affects 2-3 times as many women as men.

While the multiple sclerosis symptoms and course of illness can vary from person to person, there are three types of the disease:

Relapsing-remitting MS: This type shows clearly defined relapses with some amount of recovery in between. It affects about 80% of all people with MS.

Secondary progressive MS: While technically a form of progressive MS, this type acts more like a relapsing form of MS in its early-to-mid stage, with relapses and remissions being quite common. But then a more continuous loss of physical and cognitive functions starts to take over, and relapses become less common. Fifty percent of people with relapsing-remitting MS will develop secondary progressive MS within 10 years of their initial diagnosis.

Primary progressive MS: In this type of multiple sclerosis, there are no relapses, but over a period of years, there is gradual loss of physical and cognitive functions. This form of MS affects about 10% of all people with MS.

The first signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) usually appear between the ages of 20 and 50, though the disease can strike children and the elderly. Experts believe multiple sclerosis begins when the immune system is triggered to attack and break down myelin, the protective coating around nerve fibers. Rich in protein and fatty substances, myelin acts as insulation for the nerve fibers, which are called axons. Myelin helps the axons transmit signals from the central nervous system to other parts of the body. These signals control our physical functions and thinking abilities. When myelin is lost or damaged, the transfer of nerve impulses to and from the brain is disrupted and nerve tissue can become inflamed. This inflammation is what causes multiple sclerosis symptoms to appear and is known as a relapse. During a relapse, you may experience some physical disability and/or cognitive impairment, such as trouble with memory or problem solving.

When the inflammation subsides, the symptoms of multiple sclerosis may subside as well. This period is known as a remission. Physical disability is one way to mark the progression of disease in multiple sclerosis. However MS can also progress silently through the loss of axons. The brain can compensate for some level of damage, so symptoms may be hidden for quite some time. You actually could have multiple sclerosis, yet still feel perfectly healthy. Like an iceberg, the progression of MS can lie concealed beneath the surface.

Because multiple sclerosis can progress silently, it’s essential to keep up with your MS treatment. While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, treatment can reduce relapses, and some treatments have been proven to slow the progression of physical disability.

MS affects everyone differently. The location of inflammation and demyelination can affect how many and how severe the MS symptoms are. Some people experience a lot of these symptoms; others only a few. Even when there are no symptoms, there is progression of damage to the central nervous system over time. That’s why it’s important to stay on therapy if you have MS. There is a wide range of treatments for MS symptoms. Please check with your doctor about which treatments might right for you. MS symptoms may include:

Optic Neuritis: This is an inflammation of the optic nerve, the nerve that controls the eye. Over a period of days, you may develop blurred vision. You may feel pain behind your eye, which increases when you turn your eye.

Loss of Muscle Strength in Arms and Legs: Many people with multiple sclerosis lose muscle strength in the arms and legs as the disease progresses. The loss can range from reduced dexterity (the fingers no longer work so well) to paralysis of an arm or leg. Loss of muscle strength occurs not only in the form of relapses (temporary attacks), but also as a gradual (progressive) process without recovery. Depending on the severity, you may need to rely on a cane, crutches, or even a wheelchair to get around.

Affecting the Sense of Touch: The vast nervous system includes many sensory nerve fibers dedicated to helping you be aware of your environment. They provide the sense of touch in your fingers, and your ability to feel cold or heat on all parts of your body. When these fibers are damaged by multiple sclerosis, your sense of touch may be replaced by feelings of numbness or tingling. Parts of your body may feel burning or cold, even though there is no heat or chill present. MS symptoms can be temporary (relapses) or more progressive, and can occur in various parts of the body.

Pain: Multiple sclerosis can be accompanied by various kinds of pain. Damage to the sensory tracts in the spinal cord can result in burning pain in the arms and legs. MS can often result in damage to the nerves of the face, a painful condition known as "trigeminal neuralgia." If multiple sclerosis has impaired your ability to walk, the extra strain in the muscles of your back and legs can become painful. MS can also cause extra tension in the muscles of your arms and legs: this is known as "spasticity" and can also be painful.

The Muscles Controlling Bladder and Bowels: Many people with multiple sclerosis develop trouble controlling the urge to urinate or become unable to completely empty the bladder. Less frequently, they experience problems with bowel control. As multiple sclerosis progresses, people with MS may also be troubled with constipation.

Sexual Dysfunction: Having multiple sclerosis can lead to problems related to sexual activity. Men with MS can find it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection. In women, MS often causes a loss of sexual sensitivity, pain during intercourse, an inability to achieve an orgasm, or a reduction in naturally produced lubrication.

Balance and Motor Coordination: The part of the brain known as the cerebellum controls and corrects all our movements. Damage from multiple sclerosis can result in poor balance or coordination. You may, for instance, have difficulty grasping small objects, writing clearly, or keeping a steady hand. When walking across a room, you may find yourself losing your balance, as if you were drunk. Like most other MS symptoms, these problems can be temporary (during a relapse), or they can be a permanent result of the progression of MS.

Fatigue: Many people with MS experience fatigue or tiredness. But since fatigue can be a sign of many other diseases too, it is not often immediately identified as being caused by multiple sclerosis. Fatigue occurs in both relapsing MS and in the more progressive types of the disease. It often lasts for a few months during which time your energy is used up every day with just a little exertion.

Cognitive Function: At some point in the course of your multiple sclerosis, you may notice changes in cognitive function, such as memory and speed of thinking. You may also have trouble concentrating. In some people with MS, these symptoms can occur early in the disease. In others, they can come later.

Mood Changes: Many people with multiple sclerosis experience periods of depression. Sometimes it is linked directly to physical changes in the brain. Understandably, it may also be an emotional reaction to having the illness and learning to cope with the symptoms and the challenges they represent. If you are experiencing feelings of depression or hopelessness, talk to your doctor. Treatment for depression is available.

At Chi NeuroHealth, we encourage MS patients to consul first with their primary care physicians and neurologists for both diagnosis and treatment as early as possible. Early multiple sclerosis diagnosis is especially important because early treatment can help slow the progression of the disease. In fact, early treatment can help even if you don’t have visible symptoms of multiple sclerosis. That’s because the disease often progresses silently, causing nerve damage before you’re even aware of any problems.

We rely medical diagnosis and assessment from patient's primary care physicians and neurologists. A multiple sclerosis diagnosis usually starts with a discussion of your symptoms and medical history with your doctor. He or she may also look for signs you may not be aware of, such as abnormal responses of your pupils and changes in your reflexes. Your doctor also will want to know if you’ve had at least two “attacks” or episodes of symptoms. In addition, your doctor may order diagnostic tests, such as:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord that can detect inflamed myelin and scar tissue;

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to take a sample of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The fluid in people with MS shows specific changes that match up with the presence of inflammation;

Evoked potentials that measure the response time of various nerve impulses throughout the body. When multiple sclerosis is present, it is possible to see whether certain impulses are slowed down in the nerve fibers (because of demyelination). The more demyelination, the slower the transmission of impulses.

At Chi NeuroHealth, we will conduct our holistic assessment (HA) for each patient during his or her initial visit. We will take a holistic view of all primary signs and symptoms such as muscular tension, fatigue, blood and energy (chi) circulation, apetide, motor discoordination, urination, bowel, and level of relaxation. Dr. Kent Logan, neurologist, will assess symptoms such as spasticity, ataxia, dismotility, and neural and muscular pathologies. His assessment helps to direct the alternative and complementary therapies provided by other practitioners at Chi NeuroHealth.

While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis yet, significant advances have been made over the past decade to understand the disease better and develop more effective multiple sclerosis treatments. We encourage patients to consul with their doctors for various conventional MS treatments. Early treatment will makes a Difference. It’s important to start multiple sclerosis treatment as soon as possible.

At Chi NeuroHealth, we do not provide conventional medical treatment for patients. Our integrative treatment is to complement conventional care with holistic therapies including acupuncture, Tuina massage, herbal medicine and healing exercises. Dr. Kent Logan, our neurologist, will help communicate with physicians to assure optimal results from the integrative treatment. In addition, we believe every patient will benefit by taking a proactive role in the treatment.