Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive condition, which affects the nervous system, for which there is no cure. It's the most common neurological disorder among young adults, and symptom generally appear between the ages of 20 and 40. Women are affected more often than men with approximately three women to every two men being diagnosed. According to the World Health Organisation, multiple sclerosis affects about 2.5m individuals worldwide, of which about 1% die each year.

Nerve fibres are normally insulated with a protective sheath of fatty tissue called myelin. In multiple sclerosis, there is patchy loss and scarring of this myelin sheath (demyelination) Sclerosis means scars. This means that where the myelin is damaged the nerve messages cannot travel normally from the brain to different parts of the body through the central nervous system, affecting many functions of the body.

Although the main cause is unknown there is some evidence to suggest that factors involved include an environmental factor, such as a virus, and an autoimmune factor (that is when the body attacks and destroys its own tissue).

• Lack of coordination

• Slurred speech

• Sudden onset of paralysis

• Cognitive difficulties

As the disease progresses, other symptom may include muscle spasm, sensitivity to heat, fatigue, changes in thinking or perception, and sexual disturbances.

• Fatigue-debilitating and out of proportion to activity

• Visual disturbances including blurred or double vision, permanent or transient loss of vision or colour, blind spots, pains behind or in the eyes, jerking eyes

• Heat sensitivity (the appearance or worsening of symptom when exposed to heat, like a hot shower) occurs in most people with Multiple Sclerosis

• People with Multiple Sclerosis experience abnormal sensations such as burning, numbness, itching, or stabbing. Fortunately, most of these symptom are not life-threatening or debilitating and can be managed or treated

• Many people with Multiple Sclerosis often have a feeling off balance or lightheaded. In other instances, they may experience the feeling that they or their surroundings are spinning. These symptom are caused by damage in the complex nerve pathways that coordinate vision and other inputs into the brain that are needed to maintain balance

• The most common symptom of Multiple Sclerosis is related to muscle weakness or spasticity, but having balance problem or numbness in your feet can also make walking very difficult

• Muscle spasm are a common symptom of Multiple Sclerosis, which affects the muscles of the legs, and may interfere with a persons ability to move those muscles

• Vision problems are relatively common in people with Multiple Sclerosis, however this does not lead to blindness

• People with Multiple Sclerosis often experience swallowing difficulties, and in many cases, they are associated with speech problem as well. They are caused by damaged nerves that normally aid in performing these tasks

• Multiple Sclerosis is a very variable condition with treatment that will depend on specific symptoms and stage of the disease. If your symptoms are mild, then no treatment may be needed.

  If a relapse and symptoms are due to Multiple Sclerosis, a high dose Corticosteroid will be prescribed, which may help to reduce the inflammation and the length of your relapse

• Plasma exchange may reduce disability if you have become recently disabled

• Intravenous immunoglobulin may make disability milder in relapsing, remitting Multiple Sclerosis

• If your Multiple Sclerosis is very active, getting injections of mitoxantrone (calms the immune system) plus methylprednisolone may reduce relapses

• You should be referred to a specialist neurological rehabilitation service for help with equipment or care if it becomes difficult to carry on with normal daily activities

• You should have a multi- disciplinary assessment involving specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and social workers can provide equipment and many services