What was multiple sclerosis

About 10 to 15 percent of people with MS have only rare attacks and minimal disability 10 years after diagnosis, according to NMSS.

This is sometimes called benign MS. People with RRMS can be in remission for many years. A lack of disability after 5 years is usually a good indicator for the future. The disease tends to be more severe and debilitating in men, according to a review of studies. Your quality of life with MS will depend on your symptoms and how well you respond to treatment.

Take a closer look at the prognosis for people with MS. MS can develop all at once, or the symptoms can be so mild that you easily dismiss them. Three of the most common early symptoms of MS are:. You may go weeks, months, or even years between flare-ups. These symptoms can have many different causes. Most experts believe that MS in men tends to be more aggressive and recovery from relapses is often incomplete. Discover more early signs of MS. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to treat specific symptoms.

Regular exercise is important for physical and mental health, even if you have disabilities. If physical movement is difficult, swimming or exercising in a swimming pool can help.

Some yoga classes are designed just for people with MS. A well-balanced diet , low in empty calories and high in nutrients and fiber, will help you manage your overall health. The healthier your diet, the better your overall health.

You should try to limit or avoid :. If you have other medical conditions, ask your doctor if you should follow a special diet or take any dietary supplements. Check out these additional tips for eating an MS-friendly diet. The exact cause of MS is still unknown.

However, there are several risk factors for developing MS. If you have mobility issues, falling may put you at an increased risk for bone fractures. Having other conditions, such as arthritis and osteoporosis , can complicate matters. Mobility issues can lead to a lack of physical activity, which can cause other health problems. Fatigue and mobility issues may also have an effect on sexual function. Discover more effects of MS. In a study, however, the Society estimated that around 1 million Americans have MS.

Check out more MS facts and statistics here. You should focus on communicating your concerns with your doctor, learning all you can about MS, and discovering what makes you feel your best. Many people with MS even choose to share their challenges and coping strategies through in-person or online support groups. Download it for iPhone or Android. Read this article in Spanish.

Neurologist Barbara S. Giesser, MD, explains how multiple sclerosis affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. She also looks at the cognitive…. This damages and scars the sheath, and potentially the underlying nerves, meaning that messages travelling along the nerves become slowed or disrupted.

Exactly what causes the immune system to act in this way is unclear, but most experts think a combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved. There's currently no cure for MS, but a number of treatments can help control the condition. The treatment you need will depend on the specific symptoms and difficulties you have. Disease-modifying therapies may also help to slow or reduce the overall worsening of disability in people with a type of MS called relapsing remitting MS, and in those with a type called secondary progressive MS who have relapses.

Unfortunately, there's currently no treatment that can slow the progress of a type of MS called primary progressive MS, or secondary progressive MS in the absence of relapses. Many therapies aiming to treat progressive MS are currently being researched. If you have been diagnosed with MS, it's important to take care of your general health.

Read more advice about living with MS. MS can be a challenging condition to live with, but new treatments over the past 20 years have considerably improved the quality of life of people with the condition. MS itself is rarely fatal, but complications may arise from severe MS, such as chest or bladder infections, or swallowing difficulties.

The average life expectancy for people with MS is around 5 to 10 years lower than average, and this gap appears to be getting smaller all the time. These organisations offer useful advice, publications, news items about ongoing research, blogs and chatrooms. They can be very useful if you, or someone you know, has just been diagnosed with MS.

There's also the shift. Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support. Benign MS is a mild course where an individual will have mild disease after having MS for about 15 years.

There is no good way of predicting which patients will follow this course. Benign MS cannot be predicted at the time of diagnosis or even after a few years with MS. For more information about MS, request an appointment with our doctors. To request an appointment or refer a patient, please contact the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis Center at Request an Appointment. Request your next appointment through My Chart!

Whether you're crossing the country or the globe, we make it easy to access world-class care at Johns Hopkins. Contact us or find a patient care location. Privacy Statement. Non-Discrimination Notice. All rights reserved. Skip Navigation. I Want To I Want to