Multiple Sclerosis And The Immune System How Are They Connected by COEM in Charleston SC

Some of the most common symptoms often associated with Multiple Sclerosis include:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty walking due to numbness in your feet or legs
• Balancing difficulties
• Muscle spasticity
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulties with vision
• Various vision problems ranging from optic neuritis to total blindness
• Speech issues such as slurred speech, scanning speech, etc.
• Acute or chronic pain
• Cognitive issues involving memory, concentration, and word-finding
• Sleep problems
• Tremors
• Bladder control problems.
• Difficulty in chewing and swallowing

The precise cause of Multiple Sclerosis is still unidentified. It is unclear why this condition develops in some individuals and not others. Several kinds of research conducted in this area found a combination of genetics and environmental factors to be responsible. However, certain risk factors like low vitamin D levels, certain infections, autoimmune diseases, smoking, etc., can make people more vulnerable to Multiple Sclerosis. Also, women have a 200% to 300% more chance of getting the disease than men.

Numerous complications are associated with Multiple Sclerosis. Some of them are…

• Muscle spasms or stiffness
• Paralysis, usually in the legs
• Problems with bowel, bladder, or sexual function
• Mental changes, such as mood swings and forgetfulness
• Epilepsy
• Depression

In general, Multiple sclerosis becomes more debilitating and severe over time. People with the most common form of Multiple Sclerosis called Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis or RRMS usually find their symptoms worsen with each attack.

Usually, after having RRMS, most people will advance into secondary progressive Multiple Sclerosis or SPMS. In this condition, the symptoms worsen with time, and they may stop experiencing remissions or relapses.

As the disease progresses further, the patient reaches end-stage Multiple Sclerosis. They start to experience more severe symptoms such as loss of mobility and severe cognitive problems leading to loss of physical independence.

In a healthy person, nerve fibers have a protective covering known as myelin that insulates the nerve fibers from damage. In people with Multiple Sclerosis, their immune system erroneously identifies the myelin as a foreign body and sends disease-fighting cells into the central nervous system to destroy myelin. This happens because immune system cells bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB). BBB is a layer of cells that prevents destructive cells and other substances in the blood from entering the brain and the central nervous system. Damaged myelin can generally be restored, especially during the early stages of the disease, by Oligodendrocytes, which are cells responsible for creating and maintaining myelin. However, gradually oligodendrocytes may be unable to restore the damaged myelin.

Multiple Sclerosis causes problems throughout the body of the patient. It can cause issues like:

• Brain interruptions
• Emotional changes,
• Vision problems
• Vocal changes
• Difficulty swallowing
• Breathing difficulty
• Amplified cardiovascular risk
• Hand-eye coordination problems
• Brittle bones
• Muscle weakness
• Weak bladder control
• Sexual dysfunction
• Balancing issues
• Weakened immune system

If you are looking for expert multiple sclerosis treatments, please call us or schedule an appointment with our expert doctors today. We serve patients from Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, North Charleston SC, Ladson SC, Hanahan SC, James Island SC, John’s Island SC, Daniel Island SC, all of South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally. Patients routinely fly into Charleston to be evaluated by COEM and to enjoy this beautiful city which is a Condé Nast and Travel and Leisure Top Domestic and International Tourist Destination.