Complications

[Guest guest]

http://www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc17.html Specific Complications of Multiple Sclerosis Because the effects of nerve injury are widespread, the many complications can be very severe. Although not all patients experience all of the following problems, any of them can negatively impair quality of life. Loss of Mobility and Spasticity. Nearly every patient loses some mobility, which may take the form of less or impaired motor control, muscle

weakness, impaired balance, and, importantly, spasticity. Spasticity is one of the primary symptoms of MS. It is characterized by weakness, loss of dexterity, and the inability to control specific movements. It is usually more severe in the legs and torso. (Ironically, mild spasticity actually helps improve muscle tone in the legs, which is important in supporting the patient's weight when walking.) It should be noted that mobility can be affected by many non-physical factors, including mental well being, social networks, fatigue, and even the weather. Fatigue. Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating MS symptoms. In one study, nearly half of all MS patients experienced fatigue at least once a week. It may be mild or completely debilitating. Psychological factors, including feelings of poor control over symptoms and a hypersensitivity to physical sensations, appear to be important components in producing fatigue. Heat also increases the chance for

fatigue. Pain. According to one survey, about two-thirds of MS patients experience pain at some point during the course of the disease and 40% are never pain free. According to one 2000 study, half of MS patients report difficulty working due to pain and 44% have trouble sleeping. MS causes many pain syndromes; some are acute while others are chronic. Some worsen with age and disease progression. For example, trigeminal neuralgia is severe facial pain, usually on one side, that can be very severe and may be triggered by an event as mild as a breeze or teeth brushing. Other syndromes associated with MS are powerful spasms and cramps, optic neuritis (pain in the eye), pressure pain, stiffened joints, and a variety of sensations including feelings of itching, burning, and shooting pain. Urinary Dysfunction. Urinary problems from bladder dysfunction occur in two-thirds of MS patients. Some patients have difficulties in urinating at will, called

urinary retention. Often it takes the form of urge incontinence (also called hyperactive or irritable bladder). People with urge incontinence need to urinate frequently or are unable to reach the bathroom before leakage. In such cases, the bladder is overactive. When it reaches capacity the nerves appropriately signal the brain that the bladder is full, but the urge to void cannot be voluntarily suppressed, even temporarily. Complications in the urinary tract also produce a high rate of urinary tract infections. Bowel Dysfunction. Bowel dysfunction, which can include constipation or fecal incontinence, is a serious problem for many MS patients. Constipation may be caused by the disorder itself or by medications used to treat spasms or other symptoms. Sexual Dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is a common problem, occurring in over 70% of patients. Men are likely to have impotence and women, problems with vaginal lubrication. It appears to be

highly associated with urinary dysfunction. Difficulties in Swallowing. A third to a half of MS patients experience difficulty in chewing or swallowing, problems that may be caused or made worse by many MS medications. Speech and Hearing Problems. Problems in speech may occur because of difficulty in controlling the quality of the voice and articulating words. (Problems with language itself, however, are very rare in MS.) Hearing problems also occur in MS and may affect speech. Mental and Emotional Problems. Cognitive problems, such having trouble concentrating and solving problems, affect about half of MS patients. More people with MS leave work because of such difficulties than because of physical problems, according to a 2000 study. In about 10% of cases mental dysfunction may be severe and resemble dementia. (The interferon medications may improve these symptoms.) Such impairments may be related to depression

in some cases, which has been reported to occur in 25% to 50% of multiple sclerosis patients. There is some evidence that depression in multiple sclerosis is not only due to the psychologic impact of MS but to the disease process itself. In addition, in one study, depression had biologic effects (increasing production of inflammatory cytokines) that could exacerbate the disease itself. Treating depression then may even help reduce the disease process. Physicians should assess patients for depression, even though there may be no obvious signs of it. Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and subsequent fractures are common and under-recognized problems among MS patients. Osteoporosis is caused and worsened by immobility and by some MS medications. Fractures caused by falls can be far more serious in MS patients than in the normal population, leading to problems including deconditioning or even inability to walk, obstruction of the intestines (from

pain relieving medications), and respiratory complications. Problems in the Lungs. As the muscles that control breathing weaken, the ability to cough is impaired and the patient is at higher risk for pneumonia and other complications in the lungs. Sharon (MSersLife creator/owner) Bloom where you are planted.....

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting this Sharon,…..it pretty

much covers everything we’ve been talking about lately. It even included

the hearing problems, and the breathing muscles. Two things that aren’t

widely listed in other MS publications.

Very informative, and

interesting. I think I’ll print it out to give to my PCP.

Hugs, Jackie

From: MSersLife [mailto:MSersLife ] On Behalf Of Sharon

Marsden

Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 10:24 AM

To: mserslife

Subject: Complications

http://www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc17.html

Specific Complications of Multiple Sclerosis

Because the effects of

nerve injury are widespread, the many complications can be very severe.

Although not all patients experience all of the following problems, any of them

can negatively impair quality of life.

Loss of Mobility and Spasticity. Nearly

every patient loses some mobility, which may take the form of less or impaired

motor control, muscle weakness, impaired balance, and, importantly, spasticity.

Spasticity is one of the primary symptoms of MS. It is characterized by

weakness, loss of dexterity, and the inability to control specific movements.

It is usually more severe in the legs and torso. (Ironically, mild spasticity

actually helps improve muscle tone in the legs, which is important in

supporting the patient's weight when walking.) It should be noted that mobility

can be affected by many non-physical factors, including mental well being,

social networks, fatigue, and even the weather.

Fatigue. Fatigue is one of the

most common and debilitating MS symptoms. In one study, nearly half of all MS

patients experienced fatigue at least once a week. It may be mild or completely

debilitating. Psychological factors, including feelings of poor control over

symptoms and a hypersensitivity to physical sensations, appear to be important

components in producing fatigue. Heat also increases the chance for fatigue.

Pain. According to one survey,

about two-thirds of MS patients experience pain at some point during the course

of the disease and 40% are never pain free. According to one 2000 study, half

of MS patients report difficulty working due to pain and 44% have trouble

sleeping. MS causes many pain syndromes; some are acute while others are

chronic. Some worsen with age and disease progression. For example, trigeminal

neuralgia is severe facial pain, usually on one side, that can be very severe

and may be triggered by an event as mild as a breeze or teeth brushing. Other

syndromes associated with MS are powerful spasms and cramps, optic neuritis

(pain in the eye), pressure pain, stiffened joints, and a variety of sensations

including feelings of itching, burning, and shooting pain.

Urinary Dysfunction. Urinary

problems from bladder dysfunction occur in two-thirds of MS patients. Some

patients have difficulties in urinating at will, called urinary retention.

Often it takes the form of urge incontinence (also called hyperactive or

irritable bladder). People with urge incontinence need to urinate frequently or

are unable to reach the bathroom before leakage. In such cases, the bladder is

overactive. When it reaches capacity the nerves appropriately signal the brain

that the bladder is full, but the urge to void cannot be voluntarily

suppressed, even temporarily. Complications in the urinary tract also produce a

high rate of urinary tract infections.

Bowel Dysfunction. Bowel

dysfunction, which can include constipation or fecal incontinence, is a serious

problem for many MS patients. Constipation may be caused by the disorder itself

or by medications used to treat spasms or other symptoms.

Sexual Dysfunction. Sexual

dysfunction is a common problem, occurring in over 70% of patients. Men are

likely to have impotence and women, problems with vaginal lubrication. It

appears to be highly associated with urinary dysfunction.

Difficulties in Swallowing. A

third to a half of MS patients experience difficulty in chewing or swallowing,

problems that may be caused or made worse by many MS medications.

Speech and Hearing Problems. Problems

in speech may occur because of difficulty in controlling the quality of the voice

and articulating words. (Problems with language itself, however, are very rare

in MS.) Hearing problems also occur in MS and may affect speech.

Mental and Emotional Problems. Cognitive

problems, such having trouble concentrating and solving problems, affect about

half of MS patients. More people with MS leave work because of such

difficulties than because of physical problems, according to a 2000 study. In

about 10% of cases mental dysfunction may be severe and resemble dementia. (The

interferon medications may improve these symptoms.)

Such impairments may be related to depression in some cases, which has been

reported to occur in 25% to 50% of multiple sclerosis patients. There is some

evidence that depression in multiple sclerosis is not only due to the

psychologic impact of MS but to the disease process itself. In addition, in one

study, depression had biologic effects (increasing production of inflammatory

cytokines) that could exacerbate the disease itself. Treating depression then

may even help reduce the disease process. Physicians should assess patients for

depression, even though there may be no obvious signs of it.

Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis (loss

of bone density) and subsequent fractures are common and under-recognized

problems among MS patients. Osteoporosis is caused and worsened by immobility

and by some MS medications. Fractures caused by falls can be far more serious

in MS patients than in the normal population, leading to problems including

deconditioning or even inability to walk, obstruction of the intestines (from

pain relieving medications), and respiratory complications.

Problems in the Lungs. As the

muscles that control breathing weaken, the ability to cough is impaired and the

patient is at higher risk for pneumonia and other complications in the lungs.

Sharon (MSersLife creator/owner)

Bloom where

you are planted.....

Yahoo! Groups gets better. Check

out the new email design. Plus there’s much more to come.