|
Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Facts
|
|
The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis may be mild or severe, chronic
(long-term) or of short duration; may be transient (appear and
disappear very quickly) |
|
Symptoms and signs may disappear or may fluctuate in character
and intensity |
|
The sometimes bizarre and transient nature of symptoms may be
mistaken for a psychiatric condition |
|
Approx. 40% of Multiple Sclerosis patients have Relapsing-Remitting
Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) |
|
Approx. 20% of Multiple Sclerosis patients will initially be diagnosed
as having Benign Multiple Sclerosis |
|
Less than 5% - 10% of patients actually have benign Multiple Sclerosis
|
|
55% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will develop optic neuritis
at some time or other during their lifetime. 45% of patients do
not |
|
Approximately 5% - 10% of Multiple Sclerosis patients experience
trigeminal neuralgia (tic delaroux) at some stage during the course
of the disease |
|
Only 15% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will have optic neuritis
as a first symptom. 85% will present to their physician with a
different symptom |
|
Between 20% - 40% of women with Multiple Sclerosis have a relapse
within the 3 months post partum (after giving birth) |
|
Complete or partial remission of symptoms will occur in approx
70% of patients, particularly during the early stages of the disease
|
|
Males have a higher tendency to develop Primary Progressive Multiple
Sclerosis (PPMS) |
|
Females tend to experience more relapses than men |
|
5% of Multiple Sclerosis patients exhibit an inappropriate euphoria
|
|
Approx 50% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis experience cognitive
impairment such as difficulty with concentration, attention, memory
and poor judgment |
|
Approx 50% of Multiple Sclerosis patients will suffer some form
of mental disturbance such as depression, mild dementia or organic
psychosis |
|
2/3 of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will develop disturbance
of sphincter control at some stage during the course of the disease
|
|
The major bowel complaint is constipation although fecal incontinence
may occur occasionally in some patients |
|
Depression is common and unrelated to cognitive impairment although
it may worsen existing cognitive difficulties |
|
Approx 10% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis will suffer severe
psychotic disorders such as Manic Depression (Bipolar Disorder)
and paranoia |
|
In approx 80% of Multiple Sclerosis sufferers, heat will cause
a temporary worsening of symptoms (Uhthoff's Phenomenon). The
heat source may be externally produced, for example, a hot bath;
or the result of physical exertion. Removal of the heat source
/ cooling normally, though not always, eliminates the problem,
although this can take from a few minutes to several hours.
|
|
60% of neurological signs experienced during hyperthermia (i.e.
Uhthoff's phenomenon) are new to the patient. |
|
Some heat sensitive patients find a cool bath or swimming temporarily
relieves some symptoms |
|
Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis patients develop, on average,
20 new lesions per year and will have between 1 – 2 exacerbations
per year |
|
For every 8 – 10 new lesions shown by MRI, only 1 clinical manifestation
(measurable exacerbation) will occur |
|
Patients with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis have a higher
incidence of spinal cord lesion and exhibit much more rapid development
of disability than those with other forms of the disease |
|
1 in every 4, or 25%, of exacerbations are associated with a viral
infection |
|
Approx 75% - 85% of patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple
Sclerosis (RRMS) will go on to develop Secondary Progressive Multiple
Sclerosis (SPMS) |
|
Approx 80% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis experience fatigue |
|
Spasticity will occur in approx 60% of patients with a progressive
form of the disease |
|
80% - 90% of men and 45% - 70% of women will report some form
of sexual dysfunction |
|
Patients with Multiple Sclerosis have a greater risk of seizure
than in the general population |
|
Lesions may occur in the Corpus Callosum, an area of the brain
thought to be involved in seizures |
|
Exercises or physical therapy designed to stretch the muscles,
particularly those of the leg, can help prevent contractures,
an irreversible shortening of muscles. |
| |
