Can the MS battle be won?

Earlier diagnosis means a better prognosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can take years to diagnose. There is no single test or symptom that automatically confirms or rules out MS, and other diseases have similar symptoms.

Diagnosing MS early is important because studies show that starting drug treatment as early as possible helps to delay the onset of disability. "We're now providing drug treatment earlier in the course of the disease, and it's having a big impact," says Dr. Mark Freedman, a neurologist and the director of the MS clinic and the MS research unit at The Ottawa Hospital. "The response to treatment is much better than if treatment begins after five to seven years of untreated disease. We don't have a cure, but drug treatment can help to control the disease."

There are tests you can ask for that can help you find out earlier if you have MS.

Discuss any past or current possible symptoms with your family doctor, who may refer you to a neurologist. A neurologist will look for possible signs of MS, such as vision problems, lack of coordination or balance, weakness or altered sensation and reflexes.

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the most common and valuable test used to establish a diagnosis because it shows any damage to the brain or spinal cord. Other tests used to help confirm a diagnosis are a lumbar puncture (or spinal tap), which measures changes in cerebrospinal fluid, and evoked potential tests, which measure the speed of message transmission along nerves.

The signs of MS
Early symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) may include:
-numbness
-tingling or weakness in one or more limbs
-double or blurred vision, partial or complete loss of vision
-problems with balance and coordination
-dizziness
-unexplained fatigue.

Symptoms vary widely depending on what part or parts of the nervous system are affected. MS can be difficult to identify from symptoms alone because many other conditions may produce similar symptoms.

This article was first printed in the October 2008 issue of Homemakers Magazine. Click to subscribe online and never miss an issue.