Getting to know Multiple Sclerosis

Treatment and support

Treatment has three major directions:

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) — reduce MRI inflammatory activity, relapse rate/severity, and slow progression; injectable, infusional, and oral options are available.
Treatment for relapses is usually short courses of high-dose corticosteroids (IV or oral equivalent).
Symptomatic and rehabilitation support — medications and non-drug methods (physical rehabilitation, psychological support, exercises) tailored to specific symptoms. Early initiation of DMT after diagnosis is recommended by most experts.

Thanks to modern treatments and self-care approaches, most people with MS can live active lives, study, and work, with planned activities and multidisciplinary support.

How does MS manifest itself?

Symptoms vary from person to person and can come in waves (flare-ups) or be constant. The most common include fatigue, vision problems, numbness/tingling, weakness and slow coordination, balance and walking problems, pain, memory and concentration problems, bladder problems, etc. In some people, symptoms resolve after a flare-up, while in others, they persist.

How is the diagnosis made?

The diagnosis is made by a neurologist based on symptoms, neurological examination, and instrumental data, primarily MRI (which reveals lesions/"scars" in the CNS, scattered in space and time). Sometimes, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and other tests are additionally used.

Types of course and "stages"

The most common types of flow:

Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is characterized by alternating flares and remissions; it is the most common initial type (approximately 85% at diagnosis).
Secondary progressive MS (SPMS) is a gradual increase in symptoms after the phases of RRMS.
Primary progressive MS (PPMS) is a slow, steady deterioration from the beginning without clear relapses.
In general, most people initially have relapsing forms; a smaller proportion have progressive forms from the start.

Some clinical sources also describe 4 “stages” of MS based on the level of daily function loss: early (diagnosis), early (minimal loss), late (moderate), and advanced (significant). This is not a different disease, but an alternative way of talking about the course and need for care.