Chain Reaction: Reposting: Secondary Progressive MS, What Your Doctor Won't Tell You

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Reposting: Secondary Progressive MS, What Your Doctor Won't Tell You

Diane wrote such a good post at A Stellarlife that I had to re-post it and share!

http://dj-astellarlife.blogspot.com/2010/04/secondary-progressive-ms-what-your.html

2 comments:

Diane J Standiford said...: I think people are afraid to hear this. It's lke bungee jumping, scary to begin and terrifying in the middle, but once back on ground---exhilrating that you survived another day. Ya know?; April 28, 2010
Diane J Standiford said...: No comments? Gee whiz! Thursday my blog has another uncomfortable post about SPMS. Man UP y'all!; May 12, 2010

For those who don't know MS first hand - An Important Excerpt from Wikipedia on MS:

The person with MS can suffer almost any neurological symptom or sign, including changes in sensation (hypoesthesias and paraesthesias), muscle weakness, muscle spasms, or difficulty in moving;^[15] difficulties with coordination and balance (ataxia);^[15] problems in speech (dysarthria) or swallowing (dysphagia),^[16] visual problems (nystagmus, optic neuritis, or diplopia),^[17] fatigue, acute or chronic pain,^[18]^[19] and bladder and bowel difficulties.^[19]^[20] Cognitive impairment of varying degrees and emotional symptoms of depression or unstable mood are also common.^[21]^[22] The main clinical measure of disability progression and symptom severity is the Expanded Disability Status Scale or EDSS.^[23]

Multiple sclerosis relapses are often unpredictable, occurring without warning and without obvious inciting factors. Some attacks, however, are preceded by common triggers. Relapses occur more frequently during spring and summer.^[24] Infections such as the common cold, influenza, or gastroenteritis increase the risk of relapse.^[25]^[26] Stress may also trigger an attack.