What the physicians think
Doctors at Liverpool have discovered a drug that can be considered as a miracle treatment for multiple sclerosis, a debilitating and muscle-wasting disease. The scientists held their research and tests at the Walton Neurological Centre and they claim that they have just heralded a breakthrough for the eighty-five thousand multiple sclerotic people in the United Kingdom.
Those who had multiple sclerosis, otherwise known as MS, who suffered from blindness, immobility and paralysis, have described the moments when they have eventually regained their ability to see and to walk again.
What the doctors used for treating such patients were a combination of mitoxantrone, which is a drug for chemotherapy, and copaxone, which is an anti-relapse medication of multiple sclerosis.
The tests
Trials were done to twenty-seven patients and all of them were successful. To further test the drug’s effectiveness, they distributed some amount of the medication to over twenty research centers across the United Kingdom.
The testimonies
K. A. fell from a pedestal in a nightclub and was admitted to the hospital in 2002. After some tests, it was found out that she had multiple sclerosis. She was one of the respondents at Walton and she has been using the test drug ever since. In fact, up to now, she still sees the drug as a miracle cure.
A travel agent, who was just twenty-eight years old, suffered from paralysis and believed that he could never ever try walking again. But after four years of treatment with the wonder drug, he has been able to regain the complete use of his body and was able to move around freely. In fact, he got his Masters Degree in Psychology, traveled across five different continents, and excelled in his work. When he was asked, he would praise the drug for giving him his life back, if not making it better.
Another respondent to the experiment was a mother of two children. Her multiple sclerosis already reached its ultimately aggressive levels which caused her to suffer from balance disturbance and extreme fatigue. She was given a short course of the mitoxantrone and copaxone daily. Now, the very same mother is free of relapses and has even participated in the charity race, Race for Life.
Some from Runcorn also suffered from blindness and some problems with his spine. But now, he is back on his feet and has reported a great improvement with regards to his vision.
J. S., who happens to be a motorcycle enthusiast, was doomed to a wheelchair because a relapse took away his ability to walk or to move his body. At thirty-eight years old, he is able to turn his life around. Although he admits that he could never be the wild guy he used to be before, he can at least ride his motorbike again. What makes him truly happy is that he can now get back to work and be more productive.
The conclusion
The spokesman from the MS Society has finally released their statement and said that what they have found out was such a fabulous breakthrough in the medical field, especially for those who suffer from multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis affects the CNS.
The central nervous system is the one that controls most, if not all, of the body’s activity and optimal functioning. Just a minor damage to the central nervous system or the CNS can produce a very wide range of symptoms. Multiple sclerosis is only one of the diseases that can result from the damaging of the central nervous system.
Most of the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis are very unique. But having one of the symptoms does not immediately lead to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, there has to be a collective onset of symptoms. Still, however, each and every one of these symptoms could be very life-threatening and deserves medical attention as soon as possible.
Visual symptoms
Optic neuritis is one of the multiple sclerosis symptoms that affect the person’s vision. It consists of an inflammation with an accompanying demyelization of cranial nerve number two which is the optic nerve. There is a blurring of the vision, loss of some, if not all, of the visible color, loss of visual acuity, complete or partial blindness, and its pathognomonic sign which is pain behind the eyes.
Another visual symptom is diplopia, which is only a medical term for double vision. Lesions that occur within the brainstem cause this double vision. It is unfortunate for those with multiple sclerosis that the brainstem is affected because it is where the cranial nerves for eye muscles are located, specifically the sixth cranial nerve or the abducens. In multiple sclerosis, the nerve that operates the lateral rectus muscle is affected, thus, pulling the eye outwards.
Nystagmus is yet another visual symptom associated with multiple sclerosis. It is the rapid and involuntary movement of the eyes. This symptom is predominantly obvious to others but is not immediately noticeable by the person with the complaint. It is like riding on a bus where the scenery just zooms past by.
Motor symptoms
Multiple sclerosis causes paresis within the individual. It is simply a medical term for partial or mild paralysis that is usually described as muscle weakness. According to research and studies, this muscle weakness is caused by the lesions that are formed along the motor nerve pathways.
Spasticity is comprised of involuntary muscle contractions that are not coordinated with the movement of the other muscles. In multiple sclerosis, the normal pattern of reverse contractions that occur between muscles is disrupted, which further leads to the contraction of many muscles at the exact same time. Since the transmission of sensation and control messages are not properly sent to the receiver, the muscles receive information and sensory feedback that is not at all appropriate.
Dysarthria is the medical term for speech problems. In multiple sclerosis, the muscles that are involved in controlling speaking or the nerves that control the corresponding muscles are destroyed. The resulting muscle weakness and incoordination give rise to dysarthria.
Sensory symptoms
Paresthesia is described as a collection of abnormal sensations in just about every part of the body. It is composed of prickling, tingling, electrical-type buzzing, skin crawling, burning, or itching of any random part of the body. Paresthesia is most commonly referred to as pins and needles with the accompaniment of partial numbness and a variety of neuropathic pain.
Another sensory symptom associated with multiple sclerosis is the L’Hermitte’s sign. This is basically the electrical buzzing sensations that occur in the limbs and the body that is brought about by any movement of the neck. When the person with multiple sclerosis lowers the head part in a way that the chin touches the chest, L’Hermitte’s sign is triggered.
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