Your Guide to Understanding MS

Known as “the silent disease,” over 1 million people in the US today live with multiple sclerosis. This disease is unique in that it appears differently in each person, making it hard to determine what to expect with a diagnosis. If you have or suspect you have multiple sclerosis, you’ll want to know the answers to the following: 

• What is multiple sclerosis?
• How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed? 
• How is multiple sclerosis treated?

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that attacks the body’s central nervous system (CNS), damaging the fatty covering over the nerves known as myelin. As demyelination occurs, the signals from the nerves to the brain are disrupted and can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and memory loss—though symptoms will differ from person to person. It is unknown what the exact cause of MS is; however, there are certain risk factors for multiple sclerosis such as family history or having other autoimmune disorders.  

How Is MS Diagnosed?

Because multiple sclerosis appears differently in each person, it is important to be open and honest about all the symptoms you’re experiencing and your medical history. There is no one way to definitively diagnose MS, so your doctor may run the following tests to determine your diagnosis: 

• Neurological Exam
• Urodynamic Study
• MRI
• Electrophoresis
• Bloodwork
• Visual Evoked Potential Test (VEP)

Using the McDonald Criteria with these tests, your doctor will be able to determine if you have MS and the stage or progression of your MS. 

How Is MS Treated?

There is no cure for MS, but there are treatments to help lessen the symptoms and improve quality of life. These treatments can be used in tandem to best help the individual care of a person with MS. These treatments include: 

• Medications targeting specific symptoms such as fatigue or spasticity 
• Occupational, physical, mental, and speech therapy
• Adopting lifestyle changes such as avoiding hot environments that exacerbate symptoms 
• Exercise through functional electrical stimulation provided through devices like the MyoCycle

Read Our Ebook to Learn More about Multiple Sclerosis

Do you have or know someone who has multiple sclerosis? Understanding the diagnosis can be difficult and overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure where to begin looking. We’ve provided this guide to help you understand what a multiple sclerosis diagnosis means and how our MyoCycle can help improve symptoms—keeping all the information you need in one place. To learn more about multiple sclerosis, fill out the form below, and download our free ebook on the topic.

Below we answer these questions and provide a free resource with more in-depth information.