The Stages of Multiple Sclerosis

By its very nature, multiple sclerosis affects each patient in a different way. The younger a person is when they first experience symptoms of MS the more the likelihood is that they will experience complete recovery for longer periods of time. At some time most people diagnosed will progress through the various stages of multiple sclerosis. The younger a person is the longer it seems to take for them to progress through these stages and in some cases some may never progress through them all.

The first of the stages of multiple sclerosis is known as benign, and occurs in approximately 20% of people. It consists of one or two attacks that occur but cause no lasting disability. While for some the symptoms may never reoccur and the disease will never develop and in fact will never be diagnosed unless it progresses to the next stage. Even though many of the symptoms are identical to full blown early MS, there is complete recovery with no signs of lesions.

The second of the stages of multiple sclerosis is also the most common beginning phase and is called the relapsing/remitting phase. It is characterized by occasional attacks, known as relapses or exacerbations of any of a list of symptoms such as optic neuritis, muscle spasticity or speech problems. These are caused by the appearance of lesions on the myelin sheath that protects the brain and spinal cord. A person may live within this stage for many years.

The progressive stages of multiple sclerosis can be subdivided in to primary and secondary categories. In the primary/progressive stage there is a slow but steady onset of symptoms such as difficulty walking and loss of motor function that can lead to disability. In secondary/progressive the progression is somewhat faster with less time in between relapses and the amount of recovery is less complete.  The results are more permanent disability due to continued damage from the lesions.

In progressive/relapsing MS the course is similar to that of primary/progressive MS but is far more damaging. The amount of disability increases due to long periods of acute exacerbations that cause permanent damage. Functions that are lost are never recovered and there is a high mortality rate in this final stage of multiple sclerosis. Being diagnosed as early as possible is the best possible way to manage multiple sclerosis and keep it from progressing for as long as possible providing for a quality life.