Multiple SclerosisAlso called: MS

Stacey Louisa BockOccupational TherapistNamakwa District

I feel . . . by Jayne Adler, May 2000

MS is an unnerving diseaseI feel like a jumble of loose, unattached partslike a sackful of detached, separate and separating parts

a connect-the-dots portraitI feel like I'm at the seashore with the sand disappearing from beneath

my feetas the tide roll out.

I have tides within my body. They speak to me in Morse code, all dashesand

dots, telling me what ?

tides rage within mewhen I stand, swaying motion threatens to pull me over

pushing and pulling, the waves crash within me

The ebbing and flowing withinmy personal tidesthreaten my integrity

ABOUT MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system.

In MS, the coating around nerve fibres (called myelin) is damaged, causing a range of symptoms.

It's normally diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40, and affects almost three times as many women as men.

Once diagnosed, MS stays with you for life, but treatments and specialists can help you to manage the symptoms.

We don't know the reason as to why certain people are more susceptible in developing MS then others, and we haven't yet found a cure, but research is progressing fast.

WHAT HAPPENS IN MS?

how the central nervous system works

• MS is complex and can cause many different symptoms.

• It is not uncommon for a diagnosis to take several months…

or even longer.

TYPES OF MS

Relapsing remitting MS is the most common type of MS, affecting around 85

per cent of everyone diagnosed.

Secondary progressive MS is a stage of MS which can come after relapsing

remitting MS.

TYPES OF MS

Primary progressive MS affects about 10 to 15 per cent of people diagnosed with MS. Symptoms gradually get worse over time, rather than appearing as sudden

attacks (relapses).

TYPES OF MS

BENIGN MS

• If you have a small number of relapses followed by a complete recovery, you may be described as having benign MS.

Benign MS can only be diagnosed retrospectively.

TYPES OF MS

MS in CHILDREN

• MS in children is rare. Around five to ten per cent of young people with MS will experience MS symptoms before the age of 16.

MS SYMPTOMS

As the central nervous system links all bodily activities, many different types of symptoms can

appear in MS.

The specific symptoms that appear depend upon which part of your central nervous system is affected and the job of the damaged nerve.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Other symptoms might include problems with:• Bowel

• Speech• Swallowing

• Tremor

Physical symptoms of MS

Vision problems

Balance problems

Dizziness

Fatigue

Bladder problems

Stiffness / or spasms

MEMORY, THINKING & EMOTIONS

• MS can affect memory and thinking, and also have an impact on emotions. Like all MS symptoms, you might experience this in varying degrees, or not at all.

SEXUAL PROBLEMS

MS can affect sexual function for both men

and women. There are ways to manage

these symptoms.

CAUSES OF MS

No one knows the exact cause of MS, but it

is likely that a mixture of genetic and

environmental factors play a role.

GENES AND FAMILY HISTORY

• There is no single gene that causes it.

• It's likely that a combination of genes make some people more susceptible to developing MS.

• While MS can occur more than once in a family, it is more likely this will not happen.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• MS is more common in areas further away from the equator.

Viruses• …possible that something in the environment, perhaps

bacteria or a virus, plays a role.

• No single virus has been identified as definitely contributing to MS, but there is growing evidence that a common childhood virus, such as Epstein Barr virus may act as a trigger.

VITAMIN D

• There is also a growing amount of research that suggests that a lack of vitamin D could be a factor in causing MS.

• We get most of our vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to higher numbers of people developing many different conditions, including MS.

BUT WHAT CAUSES MS?

“Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss

of vision, balance and sensation.”

It is an autoimmune disease.

Define ‘autoimmune.’

“With MS, the nerves of the brain and spinal cord are damaged by one’s own immune system.

Thus, the condition is called an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are those

whereby the body’s immune system, which normally targets and destroys substances

foreign to the body such as bacteria, mistakenly attacks normal tissue.”

» WebMD

RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF THE CELL STRUCTURE

• Essential nutrients:– 26 vitamins– 72 trace minerals– Fatty acids– Amino acids

ALOE VERA IN ITS NATURAL HABITAT

GLYCONUTRIENTS

MANAGEMENT OF MS

Disease modifying drugs-reduce the frequency and severity of relapses

Diet, exercise and lifestyle-actively manage health

Nutrition-dietary supplements

PHYSIOTHERAPY

A physiotherapist works with people with MS to assess physical difficulties and help improve movement and other functions of the body. Exercise is one of the key

ways in which they do this.

TYPES OF EXERCISE

BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

??Improve overall health of people with milder MS

Help people with more severe MS to stay as mobile & active as possible

Help some people manage MS symptoms and decrease the risk of heart disease

Improve muscle strength and fitness, helping with mobility or weakness problems

Help manage weight control, especially when combined with a healthy, well-balanced diet

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT) IN MS

Occupational therapy can help people with multiple sclerosis stay active in daily life.

By improving…

skills, teaching alternative ways to complete tasks, or introducing handy equipment

HOW CAN OT HELP?

By providing recommendations in the following areas:Arm and hand therapy

Handwriting aids

Home modification information

Driver evaluation and vehicle modification information

Cooking and homemaking adaptations

Eating and dinnerware adaptations

Computer modifications

Workplace or work equipment modifications

Leisure skill development

Manual or electric wheelchair use

Bathtub and toilet equipment use

Dressing and grooming aids

SPEECH THERAPY

Speech therapy is a type of rehabilitation that focuses on improving

movement of the mouth area. Speech therapy may be part of a multiple sclerosis

treatment plan if weak facial muscles or lesions (damaged areas in the brain)

have affected your ability to talk or swallow.

VARIOUS TECHNIQUES

Oral exercises

Voice training

Special communication devices

Diet modifications

Altered positions while eating

NUTRITION

THANK YOU!Any

questions??

REFERENCES

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/

http://www.webmd.com

www.mannatech.com

http://www.glyconutrientsreference.com/whoneedsglyconutrients/medicalconditions/multiplesclerosis.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x110437

http://curezone.com/forums/am.asp?i=4979

http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=61167

http://www.glyconutria.com/living-with-multiple-sclerosis-for-20-years-and-managing-with-glyconutrients.html