Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory condition of the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves in the central nervous system. The myelin sheath functions as a sort of insulation for the nerve, and the destruction of it can lead to dysfunction of the nerves beneath. The current theory on the origin of multiple sclerosis is that an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus activates a latent genetic predisposition that then triggers the immune system to attack the body’s own nerves. It can lead to demyelination, neurodegeneration, and axonal injury that can be seen on imaging studies and is visible as a complex cluster of symptoms. The severity of symptoms can range from mild to devastating, and it may be continuous or relapsing and remitting.
Signs and Symptoms of MS
Symptoms typically have a pattern of acute severity, which represents the active damage phase due to inflammation, which then wanes into a lower level of dysfunction due to nerve damage. This is a similar process to a burn that then heals into a scar. The burn is acute and very painful, but the scar can impact function and prevents the tissue from behaving normally. In MS, the damage being done is acute, and the demyelination and neurodegeneration impacts function later. Here are the most common signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis:
- Visual changes, such as double or blurred vision
- Balance problems and vertigo
- Pain in muscles, nerves, headaches, etc.
- Changes in speech or swallowing
- Weakness and fatigue
- Muscle tremors and/or spasticity
- Alterations in gait due to stiffness and spasticity
- Difficulty thermoregulating
- Numbness and tingling
- Brain fog, i.e., difficulty thinking, remembering, organizing thoughts, and planning
- Personality changes, depression, anxiety, unexplained crying or laughter
- Urinary incontinence or retention (sometimes called neurogenic bladder)
- Digestive system dysregulation like gastroparesis (slowed motility), constipation, or obstruction
- Sexual dysfunction
How Can a Chiropractor Help?
A skilled chiropractor like Dr. Thomas Keogh can do a great deal to alleviate pain and dysfunction as a result. Clinical signs such as gait imbalance, weakness, spasticity, and more may respond to specific therapeutic techniques that your chiropractor can provide. Gentle adjustments can reduce tension in muscles without adequate motor control, realign joints forced out of place by taut muscles, and improve nerve conduction throughout the spine. Therapies can strengthen healthy muscles to compensate for weakened ones, and an overall improvement in the health of the central nervous system can bring about significant improvements in a person’s overall health.
The use of complementary medicine in treating long-term conditions like MS is vital to ensuring good outcomes and improving quality of life. Contact Bare Chiropractic today to make an appointment to be evaluated for your individualized plan to restore function and get back to living life to its fullest.
Sources
Kim, S., Chang, L., Weinstock-Guttman, B., Gandhi, S., Jakimovski, D., Carl, E., Zivadinov, R., & Ramanathan, M. (2018). Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage by Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Results from a Prospective Clinical Study. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 24(6), 596–602. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0268
Tafti D, Ehsan M, Xixis KL. Multiple Sclerosis. [Updated 2022 Sep 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499849/
