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FAQs - Multiple Sclerosis 

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Q: What is multiple sclerosis?
A: Multiple sclerosis is a condition that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). In people with multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath around the nerve fibres becomes damaged or scarred. This interrupts the messages carried by the nerves, and this can, in turn, interfere with a wide range of the body’s functions.

Q: How common is multiple sclerosis?
A: In Europe and North America, multiple sclerosis affects one in 800 people, making this disease the most common cause of neurological disability in young adults. Symptoms are typically first seen between the ages of 20 and 40. Multiple sclerosis is approximately twice as common in women as in men.

Q: What are the symptoms?
A: Some of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis are:
  • visual problems
  • muscle spasms (painful muscle contractions) and spasticity (resistance to movement)
  • pain (neuropathic and musculoskeletal)
  • disturbed movement, balance and coordination
  • emotional problems
  • extreme tiredness
  • bladder and bowel problems
  • erectile dysfunction
However, it is unlikely that a person with multiple sclerosis will experience all of these symptoms and each person is affected differently depending on how much and where the nerves have been damaged.

Q: What causes multiple sclerosis?
A: The cause of multiple sclerosis is not known for sure, although it’s thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is an autoimmune condition in which the body mistakes the myelin on nerve fibres for something foreign and attacks it. The reason for this response has not yet been determined.

Q: Can multiple sclerosis be treated?
A: Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition which cannot be cured. But there are treatments available to help manage its symptoms – some treatments may potentially slow the progression of the disease (disease-modifying drugs). The treatment chosen will depend entirely on the individual. There are also methods that can be used to help manage specific complications of multiple sclerosis, such as bladder and bowel problems.

Q: Why does multiple sclerosis cause bladder problems?
A: The bladder, which stores urine, is controlled by the nervous system. Because multiple sclerosis damages nerves, bladder function may be affected. Some people find that they need to urinate more frequently or urgently, whereas others experience difficulty emptying the bladder. Some people with multiple sclerosis may experience occasional urinary incontinence.

Q: How can bladder problems be managed?
A: A number of methods can be used to help manage bladder problems, including catheters, urisheaths (for men) and absorbent products [link: bladder problems – types of products]

Q: Why does multiple sclerosis cause bowel problems?
A: Nerve endings in the rectum help to alert people of the need to pass a stool when it enters the rectum. In people with multiple sclerosis, this message may become lost or incomplete increasing the risk of bowel problems such as constipation, faecal incontinence or a combination of both. Certain drugs commonly prescribed for multiple sclerosis can also increase the likelihood of constipation.

Q: How can bowel problems be managed?
A: Bowel problems include incontinence and constipation. Bowel problems can often be improved by changing diet; there are also several types of medication that can help. Anal irrigation can be used to help prevent constipation and faecal incontinence.

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