Talking about the stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) is often closely associated with the MS types or courses which usually vary from person to person. This uncertainty situation is one of reasons why many doctors cannot make a clearly diagnosis as earlier as possible. At the first time of making a diagnosis, doctors often tell to their patients that they ‘may’ or ‘possibly’ or ‘probably’ have MS.
Read also the previous posts about multiple sclerosis life expectancy and symptoms of this disease, before continuing!
Read also the previous posts about multiple sclerosis life expectancy and symptoms of this disease, before continuing!
There are a lot of factors that must be analyzed by doctor before making a diagnosis. These factors may include: the MS symptoms that occur, test results, which the parts of body are impaired, recurrence-patterns, etc.
Furthermore, there are also other health conditions that can generate the similar symptoms of MS. So if you experience some MS symptoms, don’t jump directly to your own conclusion -- see a doctor promptly to get clearly diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis
The progression of the disease is also unpredictable, in other words there is not exact formula to predict how each patient’s condition will progress. Even to make a certain diagnosis, a doctor may take years before making a decision.
To diagnose MS, there is no any specific test. But in many cases, some common tests to help make a diagnosis may include:
Blood tests
Blood tests are one of common tests to diagnose many types of disease, including for multiple sclerosis.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
This test can give more detailed images of certain internal organs by using radio waves and magnetic field. MRI is not only one of common choices for multiple sclerosis, but sometimes it is also used for diagnosing Lyme disease or lupus.
The test result of MRI can help doctor to analyze the indication of the myelin loss of spinal cord and brain. MRI test usually takes at least an hour to get the result. During the test, you may feel painless but when being inside the machine you may feel claustrophobic.
And there are now available some newer types of MRI to help make a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, such as; functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetization transfer imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Lumbar puncture
In this test, doctors usually more focus to analyze the abnormal level of proteins or white blood cells, viral infection, or other abnormalities associated with MS.
Evoked potential test
In this procedure, the safely short electrical impulses are involved and applied to the arms /legs. This test is more focused to get to know the performance of the electrical signals sent by the patient’s brain in response /react to stimuli.
Complications
Most patients with this disease are diagnosed in the ages of 20-40, but the emotional effects, unpredictable physical problem, and other health problems due to MS may continue throughout the patient’s life.
In several cases, multiple sclerosis may also generate other complications which may include:
- Epilepsy.
- Decreased concentration.
- Problems associated with the function of the legs (such as paralysis).
- Certain mood disorder (like depression). In fact, the suicide rate in people with MS is high.
- Problems associated with sexual function or bowel.
- Muscle spasms (stiffness).
Types or courses of multiple sclerosis
In general, there are 4 stages of MS (relapsing-remitting MS, primary-progressive MS, secondary-progressive MS, and progressive-relapsing MS)!
Relapsing-remitting MS
This course is often associated with a condition what we call as relapse or exacerbations (unpredictable acute attacks), which usually characterized by worsening symptoms of MS and followed by partial, full or no recovery of some function -- according to a published article on WebMD. These exacerbations can evolve over days or even weeks.
Furthermore, the disease typically doesn’t worsen in the periods from one attack to another. And for the recovery, it can take several weeks or even months.
Primary-progressive
There is about 15 percent of all patients with multiple sclerosis experience primary-progressive MS, especially for patients who have MS after the age of 40s.
In this course, there are almost no any obvious remissions & relapses, but more often followed by a gradual of steady disability progression. Remission in MS is a condition when patient mostly goes back to the way were before the last relapse (exacerbation) began - but this doesn’t mean all MS symptoms disappear!
Secondary-progressive
The next progress of secondary-progressive MS is usually primary-progressive MS. But in many cases, secondary-progressive begins with a relapsing-remitting course. Furthermore, the progressive part of MS in this course may start shortly after the onset symptoms or may also occur several years later or even in decades.
Progressive-relapsing
This course is a pattern of the disease when there is a steady progression in disability followed by acute attacks with or without some recovery. It is the least common form of MS.
In general, patients with this course may also experience primary-progressive, particularly in the initially stage of their progressive-relapsing.
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Reference: WebMD and MayoClinic
Image credit to ‘shutterstock’ for illustration
