Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath protecting nerve cells. Symptoms vary depending on location and severity of attacks and can include issues with muscle control, sensation, vision, speech, swallowing, as well as bowel and bladder function. While there is no cure, treatment aims to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life through medications that slow progression like various interferons, glatiramer acetate, and mitoxantrone.

1. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Medical Surgical Nursing
Neurological Systems

2. What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
• Is a chronic inflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System in
which the immune cells attack the myelin sheath of nerve cell
axons.

3. What causes MS?
• MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath,, the protecting
covering that surrounds nerve cells.
• The nerve damage is caused by inflammation.
• Inflammation occurs when the body’s own immune cells attack the
nervous system.

4. What are some symptoms of MS?
• Symptoms vary, because the location and severity of each attack
can be different.
• These episodes alternate with periods of reduced or no
symptoms.(Remission)
• Fever, hot baths, sun exposure, and stress can trigger or worsen
attacks.

5. Different types of symptoms
• Muscle Symptoms
• Bowel and Bladder Symptoms
• Eye Symptoms
• Speech and Swallowing Symptoms

6. Muscle Symptoms
• Loss of Balance
• Muscle Spasms
• Numbness or Abnormal Sensation in any area
• Problems Moving arms or legs
• Problem Walking

7. Bowel && Bladder Symptoms
• Constipation and Stool Leakage
• Difficulty Beginning To Urinate
• Frequent Need To Urinate
• Strong Urge To Urinate
• Urine Leakage

8. Eye Symptoms
• Double Vision
• Eye Discomfort
• Uncontrollable Rapid Eye Movements
• Vision Loss

9. Speech && Swallowing Symptoms
• Slurred or Difficult to understand speech
• Trouble chewing and swallowing.

10. Treatment
• There is no known cure for MS at this time.
• The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and help you maintain
a normal quality of life.

11. Signs & Tests of MS
• Signs • Test
• Decreased ability to move a part of • Lumbar puncture (Spinal tap) for
the body cerebrospinal fluid test
• Changes in the visual fields or eye • MRI scan of the brain & MRI scan of
symptoms the spine
• Rapid eye movements triggered when • Nerve function study (evoked
the eye moves potential test)

12. Medications
• Medications used to slow the progression of MS are taken on a
long-term basis
• They include
• Interferon's (Avonex, Betaseron, or Rebif)
• Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone)
• Mitoxantrone (Novantrone)