Stages of Multiple Sclerosis Explained

When you hear someone talking about the stages of multiple sclerosis it can get more than a little confusing. When someone is talking about any type of disease in this manner, your first thought is likely to be that anyone who is diagnosed with MS will start at a particular stage and will then proceed through all of the known stages until the reach the final one and will then succumb to it. This may be the case with many diseases, but MS is not like many diseases and not everyone will be affected by it in the same way.

Learning about MS

For most patients who have been diagnosed with this disease, the only stages of multiple sclerosis they see in their mind are likely to be the most advanced ones that often leave the suffer severely disabled or is fatal. These stages fall under the classification of Progressive Relapsing MS and can lead to End Stage multiple sclerosis. Here, one should try not to read too much into a name as it is very possible to be that the Advanced or End stage and still not be afflicted with the severe disabilities that most people picture in their minds.

These final stages of multiple sclerosis are the result of a buildup of lesions on the myelin sheath surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. A large percentage of patients will find that the damage caused by these lesions can cause only minor symptoms. The severity of each person's symptoms depends almost entirely upon where the lesions are located. Simply having lesions is not enough to cause major disabilities; they must be attached in areas that allow them to adversely affect the nerves.

Not Everyone Goes through All Stages

It also worth noting, that not everyone progresses through the various stages of multiple sclerosis at the same rate. Some patients will remain in the Benign stages for all of their lives and may only experience a few exacerbations when they are young and never have any more, living a full and normal life. Others can move quickly through the different stages into the End Stage or Progressive Remitting stage. Even then not all patients end up as severely disabled as others.

One thing worth noting is that making significant adjustments in the way you eat can make a significant difference in the rate at which you progress through the stages of multiple sclerosis. It is a proven fact that a diet high in essential fatty acids including leafy green vegetable and seafood can make a big difference in the speed at which MS progresses and can help a person remain in remission for many years.