Often, after the first exacerbation, the disease does not manifest itself within the next 10 or even 20 years old – a person feels completely healthy. But after all, the disease appears again and the new exacerbation occurs. In the beginning, during remission (between exacerbations), occurs complete restoration of all temporarily lost body functions, but over time, neurological defect increases and persists even during remission.

There are other, more rare, versions of multiple sclerosis – for example, when the first sclerosis symptoms has been arose and, during some time, steadily progressed, at the same time there was no remission. Remittent course is common for those patients in whom the disease has developed in his youth, and primary-progressive for older people.

1. Sensitive violations: tingling sensation or numbness in hands, feet or one half of the body; bad feeling the floor under the feet («as if the cotton pads under the feet», «often lose slippers and did not notice this »).

2. Defeat motor areas: high tendon reflexes, measured the stress in the legs, less often in the hands (by increasing muscle tone), as well as possible, and paralysis («decline of muscle strength in hands and feet»).

3. The defeat of the cerebellum: a violation of coordination in the body, stagger when walking, clumsiness and tremor of the hands and feet.

4. Visual impairment: reduced vision in one eye sometimes to complete blindness; black dot in the center of the view field, a sense of muddy glass, dimout behind the eye. This is a manifestation of retrobulbarnogo neuritis (optic nerve lesion at the site of the eye as a result of the defeat of his myelinic envelope).

5. Nystagmus: impaired movement of the eyeball («objects appear double»).

6. Urination violations: the inability to tolerate when the urge to help, urine incontinence.

7. The defeat of the facial nerve: weakness of muscles of one half of the face; reduction in taste sensitivity.

8. Emotional disorders often develop against on a background of multiple sclerosis: excessive anxiety, poor background mood (depression), or, conversely, underestimation of their condition, inappropriate jocularity (euphoria).

9. Typical sclerosis symptoms are constant tiredness and fatigue, even after mild physical and mental burden; feeling «passing an electric current» down the spine with the head tilt, the aggravation of existing symptoms after a cup of hot tea, soup plates, after taking bath («hot bath» symptom) .

And this is not the whole spectrum of multiple sclerosis signs! All of these sclerosis symptoms, alone or in various combinations develop within a few days after the exacerbation (often within 2-3 weeks) almost completely disappear.

By the way, in the early years the functional recovery of the disease may occur even without treatment and shorter time. Or maybe so that the woman even did not pay attention to short-term palm numbness, low volatility or decline in vision in one eye.

It’s important to note once more, that each multiple sclerosis is different in different patients, which proceeds on an individual scheme. One can never predict in advance how severe will be manifestations of the disease, and how often worsening will be and how long remissions will last.

According to statistics, every fourth case of multiple sclerosis is innocent – even over 20-25 years after disease the person is able to stay healthy.

Moreover, in women sclerosis occurs twice more than in men. Before 15 and after 60 years the multiple sclerosis may begin in rather rare cases. People living in northern latitudes, where there is little solar energy, more prone to this suffering, as those who leave in equator. Representatives of the European races are sick more often than the black and Asian races. And also, there is a great role of hereditary factors – if one of the parents is sick, the risk of multiple sclerosis in the child significantly increases.

During the exacerbation of the disease in the brain white matter appear centers of demyelization (i.e, deprived of myelin) and inflammation. The important point is that remission occurs even against the backdrop of powerful anti-treatment, or ever self restoration of myelin. This attenuation process is kept until the next exacerbation.

In addition to white matter, affect other tissues: gray matter (nerve cell bodies) and nerve fibers (inside myelin). Their defeat is happening on another mechanism: tissue gradually fade and quickly became old. This process is constant, not only during the exacerbation.

Necessary examinations:

1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of head and, if necessary, the spinal cord – identify pockets of demyelination. Introduction of contrast material helps to determine whether the center is active at the moment or not.

2. Evoked potentials (EP) of all modalities – identify the extent and level of lesion conductive paths, as well as the involvement of the optic nerves.

3. Investigation of cerebrospinal fluid (lumbar puncture).

4. Investigation of protein in the blood (protein electrophoresis).

5. Investigation of immune status.

6. Ophthalmologist consultation.

In light exacerbation with isolated sensitive or emotional disorders using: General tonic tools, tools that improve the blood supply of tissues, vitamins, antioxidants, sedatives, if necessary – antidepressants.

In more severe exacerbation use:

1. Hormones – corticosteroids (metipred, prednisolone). Used large doses of hormones for 5 days – such treatment is called a «pulse»-therapy. It is important to do infusion with these powerful anti-inflammatory and immune depressing drugs as early as possible, because then they speed up recovery processes and reduce the duration of exacerbation.

2. Hormones introduced a short course, so the severity of their side effects are minimal, but back with them are taking drugs that protect the stomach mucous membrane – ranitidine, omez; medications of cilium and magnesium – Asparkamum, Panangin, vitamin-mineral complexes.