MS Is Benign ...Till |
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Right half of Brain: |
If you are lucky enough you might be, but please do not count on it! |
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The Neurologist was quite happy, having my MS 'proven' by the MRI; |
All the years since 1981's onset and up to 1994, I did not have another attack. Not one exacerbation, at least that is what the doctors had each told me..
Every symptom and strange sensation, I reported to them over the years, had all been discounted and explained away as not being caused by Multiple Sclerosis.
My last neurologist during this time period actually told me not to *bother* him again, unless I had Optic Neuritis, along with whatever symptom I thought I had!!
I had my doubts about this, yet there was little I could do against *professional* medical opinion. So, I continued to make whatever adjustments I needed and lived in secret fear, of having the next attack with the damage it could bring.
The neurologists had me convinced that damage only occurred during an exacerbation. Never in my wildest nightmares, did I ever conceive it could be otherwise.
I now know better!! |
The disease process of Multiple Sclerosis can and does continue, causing "Clinically Silent", Inapparent, or unseen damage (NAWM) to take place, between these exacerbations as the normal ongoing DeMyelinating Disease process of Multiple Sclerosis.
Myelin is destroyed and repaired time and time again. Yet, because of the great redundancy in the Central Nervous System, it is generally able to make repairs and reroute nerve messages around the damage without any noticeabe deficits.
Little by little each of these attack and repair routines takes a toll. The damage MS produces, slowly accummulates over time, for most of us. The cells which make Myelin grow too slowly, to keep up with the MS disease process.
Eventually the CNS can no longer ReMyelinate Neural tissue, and Astrocyte Cells begin producing scar tissue.
They wrap themselves around Axons - the sclerosis - in place of Myelin, protecting the Axon and preserve the Neuron's function. (View Image)
We know Myelin has two critically important roles in the CNS: It insulates Axons (maintaining closed electrical circuits), drastically increasing the speed (velocity) of generating and conducting Nerve Impulses. Myelinated Axons use much less energy, thereby producing less fatigue.
Because, the current is able to jump along the Myelin from contact point to contact point (Nodes of Ranvier), which act like electric repeaters, refreshing the current (Saltatory Conduction).
As opposed to having to physically travel through the entire length of the Axon, atom to atom (Action Potential Transmission). (View: Image)
Speed is absolutely essential, as everything in the CNS is widely dispersed and inter-connected. An action cannot be ordered or reacted to, by the higher Brain, if part of the message is late, garbled, or never arrives.
Feedback is absolutely critical in any network, and more so in a centrally directed one. Much like the way the internet sends a page or document - in many different packets or pieces of data - which must all be received, for the network to complete its task.
I know it sounds strange but, this is how the Brain actually functions. Everything is co-ordinated, checked, with override enabled and Sensory feedback is the essential key.
These mis-sent signals are interpreated as Pain by the higher Brain and can overload Neurons. The Thalamus will actually shut down, to prevent itself from burning out!
Once this happens, incoming pain signals are no longer stopped by the Thalamus and continue on to the higher Brain.
This causes most of the unexplainable pains we have - Pins & Needle, Burning (Paresthesias), and the other 'strange' (Paroxysmal) sensations.
A DeMyelinated Axon can still transmit signals, only they are much slower, use more energy (easily fatigue), and eventually fail altogether.
Without its energy-saving Myelin coating, all Neural tissue is more heat sensitive and prone to stop transmitting, when your core body temperature is increased by just 0.5°C.
However, function returns to *normal*, when your body cools off and the Axons can resume transmitting signals.
What happens is, Axons generate electricity less efficiently at higher temperatures causing Nerve Fiber Fatigue, which produces a Conduction Block.
This is because, at higher temperatures Sodium channels close faster than their electrical counterparts (Potassium channels) and increasing temperatures, decreases the time current can flow and thus decrease total current.
This causes them to require and use more energy (ATP), while generating less and less electrical current.
When there is DeMyelination, Neurons would be damaged at these energy draining higher temperatures, if they continued transmitting Nerve Impulse.
So they block (Conduction Block) all additional Nerve Impulses, until they cool down, rest, and have time to recover (self-preservation). Afterwards, they resume transmissions and function returns to your *normal* baseline.
It took a very, very long time; before I finally understood, most neurologists believe MS to be only a physically devastating disorder.
I had to fight, argue, and finally get a Psychologist and have a NeuroPsychological Evaluation done, to prove MS had produced other deficits besides the obviously visible, physical ones.
Most people still think that if you are not in a wheelchair, your MS is very mild and you are lucky. All the invisible problems MSers have, they do not see and will not allow for.
In today's world it seems, only the cardinal extremes have any value. As if everthing knowable was already known and there are no more mysteries or unexplained events remainning... You are either well or sick, rich or poor, educated or ignorant.
Sadly, society has become dependent on labels, relying on their sharp lines of demarcation to shield itself from the liability inherent in opinion and belief.
The real horror is most people believe only what they can see, touch or feel. :(
Regardless of their credentials and warm-hearted feelings, the reality of living with Multiple Sclerosis is totally inconceivable and unknowable to all Non-MSers; because they have never lived with the doubts and fears MS imposes.
So, be really lucky. Use this time learning all the possibilities that may befall you and then you will be prepared for whatever life brings your way. You will continue living as we all have - adapting and re-adjusting as we go.
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To
Life,
Tom ThJuland |
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