| In our first article in this series on multiple sclerosis | | | | the person may have some relapses and |
| we discussed what the disease itself was. In this | | | | remissions but as this stage progresses the |
| articles we're going to go over the different types | | | | symptoms reach a point where they just |
| of multiple sclerosis.There are actually four | | | | progressively get worse each day. This is why it |
| different variations of multiple sclerosis. This was | | | | is called secondary progressive. People with |
| defined by an independent survey of neurologists | | | | secondary progressive have their good and bad |
| in 1996.The first form of multiple sclerosis is what | | | | days but aside from the occasional relapse, the is |
| is known as relapsing remitting, or as Jed Bartlett | | | | no real recovery. It usually takes about 10 years |
| calls it in "The West Wing," the "good kind." | | | | for people with relapsing remitting to move into |
| Whether or not there is a good kind of any | | | | the secondary progressive stage.The third stage |
| disease is open for debate. The characteristics of | | | | of multiple sclerosis is what is called Progressive |
| this form of multiple sclerosis are that old | | | | Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. This form of multiple |
| symptoms can disappear completely and new | | | | sclerosis is progressive right from the moment it |
| ones can come into play, or the old symptoms | | | | is diagnosed, meaning that symptoms continually |
| can still be present or even worsen. After this | | | | worsen as the disease itself progresses in time. |
| happens there are periods called remissions where | | | | There is a significant recovery period in this stage |
| the symptoms completely disappear. The | | | | but when symptoms return they are |
| relapsing part is where old symptoms worsen as | | | | progressively worse.the fourth stage of multiple |
| new symptoms appear and the remitting part is | | | | sclerosis is what is called Primary Progressive. This |
| when the symptoms disappear. This is why it is | | | | is the worst form of the disease. It is |
| called relapsing remitting, and it usually runs in | | | | characterized by a gradual progression of the |
| cycles. Remissions can last for many years or | | | | disease right from the start with no remissions at |
| only a few weeks. Recovery can take years or | | | | all. There may be periods where the disease |
| sometimes happen instantly. That is why this is | | | | levels off and doesn't worsen but never a time |
| such an unpredictable disease. The majority of the | | | | where the person suffering goes into remission. |
| people affected by multiple sclerosis are first | | | | Other differences between this stage and the |
| diagnosed as having relapsing remitting MS. This | | | | other three stages is that primary progressive |
| usually happens when they are in their 20's or | | | | usually hits a person in their late 30's or early 40's |
| 30's. The ratio of women to men who have this | | | | and men are just as likely to get primary |
| form is about 2 to 1.The next stage of multiple | | | | progressive as women. Initially the disease attacks |
| sclerosis is what is called secondary progressive. | | | | the spinal cord but eventually makes its way to |
| This stage usually comes many years after the | | | | the brain. However it is less likely to damage the |
| initial diagnosis of relapsing remitting. The | | | | brain as the other stages.In our last article in this |
| characteristics of this stage are the worsening of | | | | series we'll discuss treatments for multiple |
| symptoms between relapses. In the early stages | | | | sclerosis. |