MS fatigue

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You are welcome, Kate. Fatigue is a bear, isn't it? I have it almost everyday. Do you take anything for the fatigue? I can't take any meds for it anymore because I have such severe dry mouth and the meds all make it worse. My tongue is damaged from the years of dry mouth. love Sharonjoin me on Facebook:Sharon Mars wobbletowalk@...This email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no

way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: MSersLife Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 5:49:26

AMSubject: Re: Symptoms of MS, early and later

Thank you for resending this, Sharon. I found myself immersed in reading it. It is thorough and helpful in pointing out many, if not all, symptoms of MS.The fatigue and depression part really caught my eye, as those are 2 things I struggle with almost daily.Thanks again,love, Kate Symptoms of MS, early and laterTo: Group > Since we have some new members I thought I would send this to > the group again. It in our group files (as are lots of other > good info).> > > Sharon> join me on Facebook:> Sharon Mars > wobbletowalk@...> This email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations > in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and > beauty and

in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.> > > > > from: http://www.reutershealth.com/wellconnected/doc17.html> > WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?> Early Symptoms > Onset of symptoms typically occurs between the ages of 15 and 40 > years, with a peak incidence in people in their 20s and 30s. > Early symptoms include the following: > · Optic neuritis. Optic neuritis is inflammation of the > nerves in the eye. Vision, usually in one eye, becomes unclear > or doubled, and there may be a shimmering effect. Pain or > nystagmus, involuntary jerking or movement of the eye, may also > occur. In many patients this is the first symptom of multiple > sclerosis. Some experts believe this condition may actually be a > form

of multiple sclerosis even if the complete syndrome doesn't > evolve. In 20% of people with this condition, MS develops within > two years after the onset of optic neuritis. In 45% to 80%, MS > develops within 15 years. > · Fatigue. Fatigue is typically worse in the afternoon and > may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature. > · Heaviness or clumsiness in the arms and le gs. (The first > symptoms for patients with primary progressive MS often develop > slowly in the upper legs.) > · Tingling sensations. > · Poor coordination. > · Lhermitte's sign. This is an electrical sensation that runs > down the back and into the legs, which is produced by bending > the neck forward. > Later Symptoms > As the disease develops over months or even years, symptoms can > occur in practically every region in the body and may

include > the following: > · Spasticity.> · Imbalance and dizziness. > · Tremors.> · Facial pain. > · Spasm-related symptoms. Among the other types of pain and > spasm-related symptoms that can occur during attacks are > burning, itching, aching, speech difficulties, and quivering > sensations. They usually occur in the extremities and last > seconds to minutes. Some people report itches lasting as long as > 30 seconds. > · Speech difficulties. > · Difficulty swallowing. > · Symptoms in the gastrointestinal, urinary, and genital > tracts. > · Emotional mood swings . > HOW SERIOUS IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?> Long-Term Outlook > Multiple sclerosis is not a fatal disease, although in severe > cases it poses a risk for life-threatening complications. It > also shortens the average

life span by about six years, and in > nearly all cases, the negative emotional impact of this disease > and its symptoms is considerable. Women tend to have a better > outlook than men, although the severity of the disease varies > widely from patient to patient and is unpredictable: > · About 10% to 35% of patients have a very mild form of the > disease, with little if any disability, no need for medication, > and a normal life expectancy. People who have only optic > neuritis and symptoms that affect the senses have a better > outlook than if symptoms are more widespread. > · About 70% of patients will experience some degree of > progression. MS, however, can sometimes remain asymptomatic or > becomes only mildly symptomatic even long after initial plaque > formation. An important long-term 2000 study used a scale called > the Kurtzke Disability

Status Scale to predict disability. It > suggested that progression to moderate disability is often very > slow in patients with relapsing-remitting disease compared to > patients with chronic progressive disease. Once a patient > reaches a score of 4, however, the disease worsens at the same > rate in patients with either form of the disease. [ See Box > Multiple Sclerosis Disability Score and Disease Progression.]> 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..> > >