Category Archives: Nervous System

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common type of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). where symptoms occur, in a relapse, and there is then recovery or remission of those symptoms. The time frame of the relapses is much variable with some people having relapses every four to six months, whereas other will have a relapse every two to three years. The relapse can last a few days to a few months, and the time scale for recovery is similar.

More than two relapses in a year would be considered as an aggressive MS and warrants consideration for a disease modifying course of medication. The individual relapses can be treated with high dose steroids either as injections or orally, under the advise of the neurologist.

What are the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common disease in America and Europe, with millions of patients. It is transmitted genetically, though not every offspring of an MS patient will experience MS.

Like in all complex diseases, no two cases are the same. The symptoms vary from patient to patient, and often the symptoms for one person will even vary from day to day.

The symptoms also depend on where in the Central Nervous System the myelin is damaged, and how severe that damage is.

  • Vision disturbances is a common symptom of Multiple Sclerosis. Things like blurred vision, optic neuritis, double vision and involuntary rapid eye movements are very common, and usually clear up either with or without treatment. Total vision loss is possible, but very rare.
  • The most well recognized MS symptoms are those that effect coordination and movement. Many people have tremors, loss of balance, dizziness or vertigo, coordination loss and trouble walking due to weakness or numbness of the legs. Cognitive difficulties such as trouble concentrating, short term memory loss and difficulty reasoning. Emotions can be effected, also.
  • Fatigue seems to be the most common symptom among those with MS. MS fatigue is different than just being tired, the person may feel overwhelmingly tired, limbs may feel heavy and impossible to move.
  • A person with MS may experience tingling or numbness of any part of their body, a sensation similar to that of limb that has been a sleep, burning, or a needle like pain, anywhere in the body. Some people experience facial pain and muscle pain.
  • Many people experience intermittent stuttering, or slurring of their words. The normal rhythm of their speech may change as well.
  • Some people with MS experience urinary urgency, incontinence, and bowel control problems.
  • Adults with MS may experience varying levels of sexual dysfunction. Decreased sensation, diminished arousal, and impotence are common.
  • People with MS are often extremely sensitive to heat. All other symptoms tend to worsen when the person becomes overheated. They may become dizzy, or fatigued much faster in very warm temperatures.

Although the list of MS symptoms is long, it is unusual for one person to exhibit them all.

Medication and various therapies can help the MS patient cope with troublesome symptoms.

Melatrol Natural Sleep Aid

Insomnia occurs in 18.6% of patients who take bupropion (Wellbutrin). Two percent of patients discontinue bupropion because of insomnia and agitation. Interestingly, 19.8% of patients experience sedation instead of insomnia. Decreasing the dose, adding a sedative drug or switching to a different antidepressant may alleviate the problem.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is the medical name for a condition of extreme and persistent fatigue. Chronic fatigue syndrome can affect people of all ages. CFS is a condition that can drain your energy and sometimes last for several months or years. People previously healthy and full of energy may experience extreme fatigue, weakness and headaches as well as painful joints, muscles and lymph nodes. Most people don’t realize its chronic unless a doctor finds it as part of some other check up.

Here’s a brief video interview with two doctors.

Chronic fatigue syndrome can affect any sex, race or socioeconomic class, however. And although CFS is much less common in children than in adults, children can develop the illness, particularly during the teen years. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition which can affect people of all ages. Although it is much better understood now, the causes are still not known and the effects vary from person to person.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a serious health-care problem with a prevalence of up to 3%. Based on research, it appears that Chronic fatigue syndrome is 3 times more common in women than in men. If some treatment is not done, then it can lead to depression and helplessness.

The causes are still not known and the effects vary from person to person.

Chronic fatigue syndrome treatment is possible. But its a diagnosis of exclusion. So it means excluding all other possibilities. A clinical psychologist may be needed as well, so that a proper evaluation can be done. For correct Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis, a patient must meet the following two criteria:

1) have severe chronic fatigue for 6 months or longer with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a state of fatigue lasting six months or longer and is a term given to a variety of debilitating disorders whose cause in uncertain.

2) at the same time, have four or more of the following symptoms:

  • substantial loss of short-term memory or concentration, or difficulty in thinking
  • sore throat
  • tender lymph nodes
  • muscle pain
  • multi joint pain without swelling or redness
  • headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity
  • non-refreshing sleep
  • discomfort after physical activity that lasts more than 24 hours.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is an illness characterized by persistent medically unexplained fatigue.

Initial symptoms mimic the flu: on physical examination, patients may have nonspecific findings such as low-grade fever and redness of the throat, but frequently no abnormalities are found.

When a patient has symptoms of fatigue and the doctor suspects CFS, the tests begin – physical exam, blood tests, urine tests, a mental status exam and a fatigue or symptom inventory. Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with chronic entero virus infection of the stomach. Enterovirus VP1, RNA and non-cytopathic viruses were detected in the stomach biopsies of CFS patients with chronic abdominal complaints.

You need an extraordinary healing system to defeat chronic fatigue syndrome because CFS is no ordinary disease. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a stressful disease. It is important to get emotional support as well as treatment for your symptoms, and it really helps to reduce the work load and take a step back and focus more on the individual needs for some time, till full energy and strength are regained.