5 Common Myths About Multiple Sclerosis, Debunked

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves). It’s believed to be an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues as if they were a foreign pathogen.

MS is unpredictable and affects different people differently. Some with MS may have just mild symptoms, while others lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak, and/or walk as communication between the brain and the rest of the body becomes disrupted.

At Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, board-certified neurologist Dr. Cory Lamar specializes in diagnosing and treating multiple sclerosis in patients at our Naples, Florida, office. He knows, too, that there are a lot of common myths and misconceptions about the condition, so he’s taking the opportunity to debunk those myths here.

How does multiple sclerosis develop?

The nerve fibers in your body are surrounded by a fatty sheath made of myelin; it protects the nerves and helps signals travel unimpeded over large distances. In MS, the immune system creates inflammation that destroys the myelin, forming scar tissue known as sclerosis, plaques, or lesions. When this happens, the nerves can’t conduct signals properly to and from the brain.

The immune system also damages axons, the long, threadlike parts of a nerve cell; and oligodendrocytes, the cells that make myelin. While myelin is present in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, only the central nervous system (CNS) is affected by the disease.

When an axon is damaged, messages can no longer travel efficiently between the brain and the body, leading to the symptoms of MS: vision problems, walking or gait difficulties, and cognitive changes. While myelin has some ability to repair itself, and while researchers are currently looking for ways to restore what’s been lost in people with MS, axons can’t be repaired.

The number of lesions and the areas of the CNS damaged by the immune system affect the type and severity of MS symptoms. And because axonal damage can happen even in the earliest stages of the disease, it’s important to seek out treatment as early as possible with a disease-modifying therapy.

MS is currently divided into four different types as defined by the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials of MS in 1996. They are:

1. Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS): First episode of neurologic symptoms; person may or may not go on to develop MS.
2. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): Clearly defined attacks of new or increasing neurologic symptoms are followed by periods of remission.
3. Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): Neurologic function declines progressively, and disability increases over time.
4. Primary progressive MS (PPMS): Neurologic function worsens or disability occurs as soon as symptoms appear.

Knowing what type of MS you have may help you know what to expect, and it can also help you and Dr. Lamar decide what type of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) might be best for you.

5 common myths about MS, debunked

There are a lot of myths circulating about MS, none of them true. Here, we debunk five of those myths.

1. Everyone with MS eventually needs a wheelchair

FACT: Fifteen years after an MS diagnosis, only 20% of patients need a wheelchair, crutches, or even a cane to walk.

2. People with MS can’t work

FACT: While it’s true that some people with MS face challenges with their work, it’s not inevitable.  The National Multiple Sclerosis Society explains, “Disease-modifying therapies, new technologies, better symptom management, legal employment protections, and community resources can help you remain in the workforce.”

3. Only older adults develop MS

FACT: Actually, most people with MS develop their first symptoms between 20 and 40 years old. While it can develop at any age, developing MS after 50 is considered relatively rare.

4. People with MS shouldn’t exercise

FACT: Exercise is a great way to help with symptoms and improve balance and strength.

As the researchers behind some recommendations conclude, exercise is a safe and effective means of rehabilitation in MS patients. Current evidence indicates that a supervised and individualized exercise program can improve fitness, functional capacity, and quality of life in MS patients.

5. MS is always fatal

FACT: MS is a lifelong condition, but it’s not a fatal one. According to a study published in Neurology, having MS reduces a person’s lifespan by around seven years. The same study indicated that survival was shortest for the oldest members in the group, so the average lifespan of someone with MS may be slowly increasing.

Want to learn more about multiple sclerosis and how it’s diagnosed and treated? Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, can help. Call our office at 239-667-5878 to set up a consultation with Dr. Lamar, or book online with us today.