Become Our Partner!

What is Multiple Sclerosis and How Serious it Can be?

 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition related to the Central Nervous System and occurs as a result of immune-mediated process against the CNS. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system of the body causes inflammation within the CNS which causes damage to the myelin sheath. Myelin sheath is a layer of fatty tissue surrounding and insulating the nerve fibers. This leads to the following consequences,

  • The signals in the CNS are either changed or stopped.

  • Damage to the areas of CNS leading to several neurological symptoms.

  • Development of scar tissue in multiple areas

Multiple Sclerosis

Get in Touch with Medical Experts

By submitting the form I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of Vaidam Health.

Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis may greatly vary depending upon the areas where there have been nerve damage and severity of the damage. Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:

  • Tremors

  • Abnormal gait

  • Numbness or weakness in the limbs, more often at the sides

  • Lhermitte sign - shock like sensations while doing certain neck movements like bending forward

  • Partial or complete vision loss and pain during eye movement.

  • Double vision and blurred vision

  • Slurred speech

  • Fatigue

  • Dizziness

  • Altered sexual behavior

  • Changes in bowel and bladder function

  • Memory loss

  • Depression

 

Multiple Sclerosis

 

Risk factors for Multiple sclerosis

  • People aging between 16 to 55 years are more prone to having multiple sclerosis.

  • Women are 2-3 times at more risk than men to suffer from this condition.

  • Family history is another factor that increases the risk of having the disease.

  • Certain viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus infection also increases the risk.

  • Northern European people are at high risk whereas Asian, African or Native American people are at lower risk to have the disease.

  • Low levels of vitamin D and lesser exposure to sunlight is another risk factor.

  • Patients having thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases are more prone to have Multiple sclerosis.

  • Lastly, smokers are at more risk of having the disease than non-smokers.

 

How is it diagnosed?

The diagnostic tests to detect Multiple Sclerosis are not very specific. Instead, a combination of tests is conducted to rule out other conditions of similar signs and symptoms. After taking a detailed case history to know any past medical illness and family history,  and conducting a detailed examination, the following tests are recommended:

  • Blood sample tests - Certain tests to detect some particular biomarkers related to Multiple Sclerosis that aid to give the final diagnosis.

  • Spinal tap test or lumbar puncture -  A sample of fluid is taken from the spinal canal for laboratory analysis. This helps in ruling out infections or any other abnormalities having similar symptoms like MS. This also detects certain abnormalities in the antibodies associated with MS.

  • Radiological examination - Imaging tests such as MRI are done to detect the areas in the brain and the spinal cord which are affected. A contrast material is injected in the veins to reveal the active phase of the disease.

  • Potential tests - These tests help in recording the electrical signals created by the nervous system to respond to the stimuli. The electrodes are used to measure the speed at which the information travels along the nerve pathways.

 

Treatment

In India, around 2-2.5 lac patients with Multiple sclerosis are getting treated. The average cost of the treatment in India is around 20,000-25,000 USD. The annual cost of the treatment can vary widely in India, Turkey, Thailand, and UAE but it is somehow affordable as compared to other parts of the world. There are numerous best neurosurgery hospitals in India that provide quality medical treatment. 

You can also check out the cost of Multiple Sclerosis in India.

There is no permanent cure for the condition. The objective is to speed up the recovery from attacks and slow down the progression of the disease along with the management of the symptoms. The top neurosurgeons in India, mostly choose the following forms of treatment:

Corticosteroids - These include prednisone and intravenous methylprednisolone, used to reduce nerve inflammation. The side effects may include insomnia, increased blood pressure, mood swings, and fluid retention.

Plasma exchange - Plasma is a part of the blood, which is removed and separated from the blood cells. The blood cells are mixed with albumin and then inserted back into the body. This is used if the symptoms are new, severe, and did not respond to steroids.


 

kavreen Author Name
kavreen

Dr. Kavreen Arora

Dr. Kavreen studied medicine and actively practised for few years before she decided to share her knowledge through medical blogs and articles. Since then, Dr. Kavreen has written several articles about the recent advances in various medical treatments, life expectancies, and the best hospitals & doctors across the nation. 

She is a keen observer and likes to keep herself updated with the new technologies. She is an avid reader and an earnest writer in the medical field.

This content meets Vaidam Editorial Policy and is reviewed by
Dr. Bhawana Mittal Reviewer Name
Dr. Bhawana Mittal

Dr. Bhawana Mittal has 7+ years of experience in managing patients and their medical queries. With a keen eye for detail and a deep-rooted passion for healthcare and wellness, she is dedicated to ensuring the accuracy and credibility of medical content. Her expertise spans across diverse medical domains, enabling her to review and refine the content on almost all diseases and conditions. 

Vaidam - A Complete Solution

Select the doctor and let us know Select the doctor and let us know
Receive Medical Visa Invitation from us Receive Medical Visa Invitation from us
Book your flight tickets and share your arrival details Book your flight tickets and share your arrival details
Get recieved by us, check-in the hotel Get received by us, check-in the hotel
Visit the hospital, Meet the doctor Visit the hospital, Meet the doctor
Start the procedure, make payment at the hospital Start the procedure, make payment at the hospital
Discharge from hospital, Recuperate and Fly back Discharge from hospital, Recuperate and Fly back
Occasional follow-ups from your home country is arranged by us Occasional follow-ups from your home country is arranged by us
Want details about Visa requirements Want details about Visa requirements
View details
NABH accredited,
Number 1 platform for medical procedures.

Why Vaidam?

25,000+ patients from 105+ countries have trusted Vaidam

NABH

NABH Certified Healthcare Discovery Platform

Vaidam is NABH certified healthcare discovery platform that will connect you to top-notch medical experts, hospitals, wellness options, and trusted travel partners to help identify and make the right healthcare choices.

Researched & Personalized Treatment Plan -
                                                Under One Roof

Researched & Personalized Treatment Plan - Under One Roof

You can search for the best hospitals, read about them, view photographs of the facilities at the hospitals and the places at which the hospitals are located, and check the cost of treatment.

Quality Treatment Within Your Budget

Quality Treatment Within Your Budget

As soon as you post an enquiry, the patient relation team will collect details from you, share them with the doctors and hospitals on Vaidam's panel, and get a personalized treatment plan. We research to get quality treatment within your budget.

Treatment to Travel

Treatment to Travel

Vaidam concierge assists patients, to get medical Visa, the best airline fares and arrangements for your stay. Our concierge also helps you with daily travel, language, and food concerns. Vaidam does everything to be your perfect host. All of Vaidam’s services are free of cost to patients.

International Reach

International Reach

Vaidam Health has network in 15+ countries, which includes India, Turkey, UAE, Germany, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Spain.

Note: Vaidam Health does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The services and information offered on www.vaidam.com are intended solely for informational purposes and cannot replace the professional consultation or treatment by a physician. Vaidam Health discourages copying, cloning of its webpages and its content and it will follow the legal procedures to protect its intellectual property

Thank you. We will contact you soon.

x
Send Enquiry