|
|
 |
Welcome to the website of the
Southwest Virginia MS Support Group
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
About Multiple Sclerosis
Mostly written by
Marshal, the
webmaster, who has had MS for 30 years.
Other items will have a reference to it. |
Hang in there baby...YOU CAN DO IT!
Remember you may have MS
but MS DOES NOT HAVE YOU!
REMEMBER THAT!
This section is to start you in learning about Multiple Sclerosis or
MS. Let us translate Multiple Sclerosis so we understand what
the words mean. Well if you do not understand multiple you need to
go back to third grade...lol. It means many. Sclerosis or
sclerotization is a hardening of tissue and other anatomical features[1].
When hardening occurs it turns into a scar therefore MS = many scars.
How did we get MS? The exact cause is not known. It is believed to
result from damage to the
myelin sheath
which surrounds and protects our nerve cells or
neurons.
It is a progressive disease, meaning the nerve
damage (neurodegeneration) gets worse over time. In addition to
nerve damage, another part of MS is inflammation. Inflammation occurs when
the body's own immune cells attack the nervous system. The inflammation
destroys the myelin, leaving multiple areas of scar tissue (sclerosis). It
also causes nerve impulses to slow down or become blocked, leading to the
symptoms of MS. Repeated episodes, or flare ups, of inflammation can occur
along any area of the brain and spinal cord[2].
The symptoms we have will vary with each
exacerbation
or relapses
(an attack). They can be different each time you have
one and with me they have. They will also very from person to
person. But we all can relate as we either have or could have the
symptom someone is talking about. Exacerbations can last a very
short time (I hope they do for you) or last weeks or months. I have
had them last that long BUT I GOT OVER IT while going on with my life.
You can not give up. Once an exacerbations has
"finished" I hope you will go back to the way you were before it happened
but you could have some damage to your body.
Read about the types and stages and read about
what your doctor/nurse practitioner told you what type of MS you have
or the possibility that you have MS.
Also look at the course of MS and
diagnostic categories.
Remember I am not in the medical field, just a webmaster
(computer geek...lol) and someone who has
had MS for 30 years who is trying to tell you what has happen to me and
what MS is about. You can read my MS story, if you like, by clicking
here.
I have researched what I have put on this website and will try to keep
it up to date.
I wish you luck in you journey in life with MS. Do not give up
there are people on the web you can talk to on in chat rooms.
Read about MS from reputable sources. Get magazines from them so
you keep up to date. Read their website. This is a journey for
life. Do not take things people say for granted...even me. Any
questions you can e-mail me, the webmaster. My e-mail
address is below on every page.
References
|
|
|
|
|
|
