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Commonly asked questions about MS

If you or someone close to you has recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), you will almost certainly have a number of questions about how it will affect your life. The information below should provide a starting point for finding out about the condition and how it can affect a person's life.

What is MS?
What causes MS?
How common is MS?
What are the symptoms of MS?
What is my prognosis?
How does MS progress?
Is there a cure for MS?
How is MS treated?
Will MS affect my work?
Can I still drive?
Will I need a wheelchair?
Will MS affect my life expectancy?
How can I stay healthy?

What is MS?
MS is a condition that affects your brain and spinal cord. Your immune system normally helps to fight disease, but in MS it attacks and damages the myelin sheath that coats and protects the nerves. This can distort nerve signals getting to their destination or even stop them altogether, causing a variety of symptoms depending on where the damage occurs.

For more information, visit About MS. Top

What causes MS?
The exact cause of MS is still unknown. Scientists believe that it is caused by a combination of genetic (genes inherited from your parents) and environmental factors (such as what geographical region you live in, and exposure to certain viruses). Top

How common is MS?
Overall, MS affects around 100,000 people in the UK. That is, around 120 in every 100,000 people in England and Wales, around 170 per 100,000 in Northern Ireland, and 190 per 100,000 in Scotland. MS affects more than twice as many women as men. Top

What are the symptoms of MS?
MS can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on where the nerve damage occurs. Common symptoms include: weakness, fatigue, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, tingling and loss of balance. MS can also affect memory, sight, and the ability to concentrate.

For more information, visit Symptoms of MS. Top

What is my prognosis?
Prognosis, or predicting the course of a condition, can be a very difficult question to answer because MS affects each person differently. Some people just have a few attacks of symptoms (relapses) without any further problems. Most people with MS will experience relapses from time to time, although these are usually spaced with remission periods of no symptoms. In the long-term, MS may leave some people with serious health problems and disabilities, but it is impossible to predict which people will get these, or how bad they will be.

For more information on the different types of MS and how the condition progresses, visit Types of MS. Top

How does MS progress?
The progress of MS is variable, depending on the severity and location of inflammation, and how quickly the myelin sheath breaks down, leading to nerve damage. MS is very unpredictable, and it is almost impossible to predict how your condition will progress in the future.

For more information on the different types of MS and how the condition progresses, visit Types of MS. Top

Is there a cure for MS?
Although there are not yet treatments that can cure MS, there are therapies that can help people with MS manage their day to day symptoms, and other treatment to help prevent attacks of MS and delay the progression of the condition.

For more information, visit Treatment options. Top

How is MS treated?
Some treatments for MS help to control day to day symptoms when they happen. There are also treatments to help prevent attacks and delay disease progression, called disease modifying treatments. The symptoms associated with an actual attack or relapse can be treated with corticosteroids.

You should talk to your neurologist about your treatment options. It is important to begin treatment as soon as possible to slow progression of the condition.

For more information, visit Treatment options. Top

Will MS affect my work?
It’s a good idea to think about the type of work you do and how having MS might affect your ability to do your job.
If your MS could have any health and safety impact in the workplace (yours or others), then you do need to tell your employer so that a risk assessment can be completed. You may also want to talk to your employer if you need to take time off work, or if you are worried about how your work may be affected by MS. Top

Can I still drive?
You will need to inform the DVLA if you have MS. Having MS does not mean that you cannot drive, but you may need to undergo a medical assessment to keep your licence. Top

Will I need a wheelchair?
The majority of people with MS will not need to use a wheelchair on a regular basis. Top

Will MS affect my life expectancy?
MS is not a life threatening condition in itself, and most people with MS have a life expectancy that is comparable to that of the general population. Top

How can I stay healthy?
Eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise, and keeping your weight within normal limits is a good idea for everyone, and especially if you have a long-term condition like MS. Exercise can be particularly beneficial as MS can cause muscle weakness. Some people find that their symptoms are triggered by stress, so finding ways to manage stress may help to prevent symptoms.

For more information, visit Positive Living Top