Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system and it is the kind of disease that doesn't affect, or hardly affects I should say, people in exactly the same every time.
Over the years, there have been about four different types of MS to describe the different forms the disease may take in us. These are relapsing/remitting, secondary progressive, progressive relapsing, and primary progressive.
Relapsing/remitting is defined by some as having relapses or episodes of the disease. There are slightly above 80% of those who are suffering from MS who have or begin with this type. During a relapse, people may have symptoms that have not shown themselves before and maybe also see other symptoms that they have experienced before, either worsen, change or not be present. During what has been called the remission phase (which is the abatement of symptoms of a chronic disease), the symptoms ease up and the effects caused by them may go away to be a little easier to deal with. As with a lot of aspects of MS, remissions may last only a few days while, with others, they may have months or years.
Secondary progressive is considered the second stage of relapsing/remitting MS and about 90% of those diagnosed with MS will progress to this type. Remissions are what actually characterize this type because the relapses become more severe. It does get to the point where there are very few relapses because the MS worsens until the central nervous system is completely impacted. This process, however, can take many years and a lot of people with this form of it can still live fairly normal and active lives because it is not something that suddenly happens.
Progressive relapsing is a type that is seen when there are acute attacks with little recovery during relapses. There are very few relapses as well. The relapses also don't represent the recovery of our central nervous system, but is just a break prior to more significant attacks. About 5% of those with MS have this type of it.
Primary progressive occurs in about 10% of those diagnosed with MS and in this type, the body goes through a gradual disabling. The person with this usually doesn't suffer from acute attacks and it can be more difficult to diagnose because of it. However there are gradual impairments of movement and the increased disability usually helps the diagnoses of the disease within a few years of its' development.
Multiple Sclerosis: The
Disease
In summary, MS is an
unpredictable disease of the
nervous system which manifests primarily by disorders
in mobility. It is associated with a variety of other primary
and secondary symptoms and complications.
In general it is compatible with a long and productive life.
LABE SCHEINBERG
All of a piece, Multiple Sclerosis
http://www.lifewithms.com/msdis.htm
Wikipedia has a very involved definition of MS here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis