swiss medicaMultiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition that progresses gradually over a period of time. It primarily affects the myelin sheath of the nerves, resulting in symptoms mostly affecting the patient’s movements. If not treated properly, multiple sclerosis can affect the routine activities of patients and trigger the development of several multiple sclerosis complications.
It is important to be aware of complications of MS so that you can receive appropriate medical intervention to slow further progression of the disease.
This article provides information about how multiple sclerosis affects the patient’s overall health and the common complications of this condition. It also discusses safe and effective strategies for the treatment and prevention of MS complications.
How Multiple Sclerosis Affects Your Overall Health
Multiple sclerosis affects the nerves by targeting its myelin sheath that covers nerve cells. This results in disruptions in the activities of the nervous system, due to which the communication between the brain and the other parts of the body is affected. As a result, the patients develop symptoms that can affect their overall health.
Multiple sclerosis complications can affect each patient differently depending on the severity of symptoms and the involvement of nerves responsible for maintaining communication between the brain and specific organs.
For example, the nerve damage associated with multiple sclerosis can cause muscle spasticity and stiffness due to which the patient’s movements are significantly restricted. In addition, the patient may experience difficulty walking, talking, running, breathing, and swallowing. The affection of nerves may also affect bowel movements.
These complications of MS can affect how effectively a person can move about and hamper the functions of internal organs, including the digestive system, eyes, lungs and airways, brain, and muscles.
Dealing With Common MS Complications
Although multiple sclerosis is a chronic progressive condition known to cause several complications, it is possible to deal with its symptoms and avoid complications of MS by taking proper treatment and making changes in your diet and lifestyle.
Here are some common multiple sclerosis complications and effective ways to relieve or prevent them.
Battling Fatigue
Fatigue or unusual tiredness are common symptoms reported by patients with multiple sclerosis. The symptoms are attributed to pain, stiffness, and spasticity of muscles due to which patients experience difficulty in moving about.
Some medications can help manage pain and other symptoms that contribute to restricted movements and fatigue. In addition, regular exercise and physical therapy might be effective for improving muscle strength and reducing stiffness.
Here are some additional strategies for dealing with multiple sclerosis complications:
- Eat a healthy and nutritious diet comprising fresh fruits and vegetable
- Make sure your diet contains an adequate amount of vitamins, minerals, protein, complex carbohydrates, and other nutrients needed to improve energy levels and heal damaged tissues
- Drink plenty of water
Although fatigue does not comprise the complications of multiple sclerosis that cause death, it definitely should not be ignored as it may affect the patient’s overall health and contribute to the development of other serious MS complications.
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Overcoming Mobility Challenges
It is common for multiple sclerosis patients to experience soreness and tightness in the large muscles of the hands and legs. This can pose challenges with mobility. Additionally, spasticity of the muscles can keep the patients from performing simple movements, such as unclenching the fist or bending the wrist.
Medications, such as muscle relaxants, can be prescribed to patients who experience mobility challenges. These drugs can provide relief from multiple sclerosis complications affecting the muscles.
Additionally, regular exercise, stretches, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy might be effective for improving mobility. The strategies may help improve muscle coordination and address issues that make it difficult for patients to maintain balance. Muscle relaxants might also help relieve MS breathing complications in some cases.
Cognitive Impairment
Most people believe that multiple sclerosis complications affect only mobility. However, it is important to note that some patients may also experience cognitive impairment.
Multiple sclerosis can cause memory loss and slow intellectual processing, resulting in challenges associated with abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and visual-spatial abilities.
Cognitive rehabilitation can play a role in improving cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis. Support from family, friends, and self-help groups can also offer a vital resource to deal with these complications of MS.
Pain And Sensory Symptoms
Pain and sensory symptoms caused by multiple sclerosis, such as neuralgias or tingling and numbness in the hands and legs, can be managed by using pain-relieving drugs.
The use of supplements containing vitamin B can also be effective for improving nerve functions and reducing sensory symptoms. These medications and supplements can provide relief from multiple sclerosis complications caused by the involvement of sensory nerves.
Handling Bladder And Bowel Issues
Multiple sclerosis causes disruptions in the transmission of signals between the brain, and the bowels and urinary bladder. As a result, the bowels and bladder do not receive the proper signals, due to which patients develop constipation, retention of urine, or symptoms of incontinence such as involuntary passage of stool and urine. The appearance of these symptoms might also suggest the beginning of the complications for multiple sclerosis.
A high-fiber diet can often help improve bowel movement. Patients may also have to use medication, such as stool softeners. Physical therapy and nerve stimulation treatment might be recommended in some cases to help regain bowel and bladder functions and get relief from these complications of MS.
Mental Health: Addressing Depression And Anxiety In MS Patients
Mental stress, anxiety, and depression are common multiple sclerosis complications that are attributed to the negative effect of this condition on the patient’s routine activities. Patients with multiple sclerosis are particularly at higher risk of depression and bipolar affective disorders.
Patients and their family members are advised to watch out for the signs of potential complications of multiple sclerosis. They can consult a psychiatrist or psychologist in case they notice any symptoms of depression.
Medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), in combination with stress relieving methods like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises, are often effective in improving the emotional wellness of patients with these multiple sclerosis complications.
Vision Troubles: What To Do About Optic Neuritis
Some potential complications of multiple sclerosis involve the nerves of the eye, due to which patients may develop vision impairment.
Vision changes usually occur in the later stages of multiple sclerosis when the nerve damage progresses, affecting the optic nerve, which carries signals from the eye to the brain. Optic neuritis is another complication of multiple sclerosis which occurs as a result of inflammation and damage to the optic nerve.
Some common symptoms associated with optic neuritis and other multiple sclerosis complications affecting the eyes include:
- Diplopia or double vision
- Dim vision
- Pain in the eyes
- Nystagmus and uncontrolled eye movement
- Blurring of vision
- Complete or partial loss of vision
In some cases, the symptoms of optic neuritis may become permanent. Hence, it is important to be watchful for the signs of vision improvement and ensure you receive proper treatment to avoid further damage to the optic nerve.
Treatments for these potential complications of multiple sclerosis are focused on helping you manage the symptoms. It usually involves wearing an eyepatch to reduce double vision, and taking medication to reduce nystagmus.
The impairment of the transmission of nerve signals caused by MS can affect the sex drive of women and men. It can also make it harder for them to reach orgasm.
Men with MS are likely to develop sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, a condition that makes it difficult for them to get an erection. Other complications of MS, such as pain, fatigue, bladder and bowel problems, and depression, can also affect their sexual health.
Aids such as lubricants and vibrators can be used to improve sexual sensation and increase libido in such cases. Certain sexual positions might be easier for couples to help ease the pain. Couples can also choose ways to stay intimate with acts like cuddling.
In severe cases, psychotherapy or sex therapy may be needed to address these concerns.
Addressing Speech And Swallowing Difficulties
One of the MS fatal complications is usually associated with difficulty swallowing. Difficulty swallowing, also called dysphagia, can be scary and even dangerous as it may lead to the entry of food into the windpipe, instead of the food pipe, causing the food to reach the lungs.
The involvement of muscles and nerves can also cause speech problems, such as slurring of speech and difficulty articulating the movements of the tongue while talking.
There are a number of steps patients with MS can follow to address speech and swallowing difficulties.
Patients with speech problems can visit a speech language pathologist who can make recommendations to improve speech and lower the risk of aspiration of food into the lungs.
Physical maneuvers and posture changes can also help them swallow food and avoid MS breathing complications associated with aspiration of food into the lungs. It is also advisable to change the consistency of food and beverages to make swallowing easier. Exercises that strengthen the muscles of the throat can also be effective in improving speech and swallowing difficulties.
Comprehensive Care: Strategies For Managing MS Complications
The comprehensive care and treatment of MS are aimed at relieving the symptoms and preventing complications by reducing or reversing nerve damage.
While the disease cannot cause death and the complications of multiple sclerosis that cause death are rare, some of them can lead to serious health issues. The treatment and prevention of MS fatal complications usually includes medication and lifestyle changes to slow down the progress and prolong the periods of remission.
With appropriate treatment and care, including by eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, focusing on symptom management, and seeking appropriate medical care, living an active and fulfilling life with MS can be possible.
Here are some strategies that can be included in the treatment plan of MS to help patients derive relief from symptoms and avoid complications:
- Eat a nutritious and balanced diet
- Eat fiber-rich foods
- Get adequate rest
- Go for regular eye checkups
- Visit your doctor regularly for follow-ups
- Drink plenty of water
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid exposure to extreme heat
- Adopt stress-relieving strategies such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises
Advances In Research: New Hope For MS Complications
The latest advancements in research have provided new hope for patients struggling with MS complications.
Recent clinical research suggests that advanced therapies, such as stem cell treatments, can be effective in the prevention of MS fatal complications.
Stem cell treatments using mesenchymal stem cells can enhance the body’s own regenerative capabilities, thus helping to confront the disease. This can provide relief from the symptoms and reduce the complications associated with nerve damage.
Mesenchymal stem cells are believed to work by producing anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and immunomodulatory effects.
Conclusion
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition affecting the nervous system. It can interfere with the patient’s routine life and pose challenges by affecting vital organs that play a role in bowel and bladder movement, digestion, speaking, swallowing, walking, and cognitive functions.
Watching out for the signs of multiple sclerosis complications and receiving appropriate treatment can help patients avoid the challenges associated with this condition. It can also improve their ability to perform routine activities and allow them to live an active and fulfilling life.
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List of References
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Benedict, R. H. B., Amato, M. P., DeLuca, J., & Geurts, J. J. G. (2020). Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: clinical management, MRI, and therapeutic avenues. The Lancet. Neurology, 19(10), 860–871. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30277-5
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Preziosi, G., Raptis, D. A., Raeburn, A., Thiruppathy, K., Panicker, J., & Emmanuel, A. (2013). Gut dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis and the role of spinal cord involvement in the disease. European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology, 25(9), 1044–1050. https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0b013e328361eaf8
Patten, S. B., Marrie, R. A., & Carta, M. G. (2017). Depression in multiple sclerosis. International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England), 29(5), 463–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2017.1322555
Genc, B., Bozan, H. R., Genc, S., & Genc, K. (2019). Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis. Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 1084, 145–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2018_247
Medical Advisor, Swiss Medica doctor
Medical Advisor, Swiss Medica doctor
