Well, it could be MS, but I think she should also be tested for Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and APS can mimic MS symptoms.
I will give you some links so you can compare the two. Email me if you have more questions.
2006-11-04 05:06:25
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answer #1
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answered by hello 4
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MS usually appears in ppl 20-40 years old, more in women than men, Symptoms depend on the affected area of nerve demyelination. Symptoms include tingling, numbness, loss of strength and/or dexterity, visual disturbances, sexual dysfunction, dizziness, vertigo, tremor, loss of balance, double vision, difficulty with bowel or bladder control, stiffness, and fatigue, mental and/or emotional changes.
2006-11-01 16:54:10
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answer #2
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answered by Mad Roy 6
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Symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely, depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis may include:
Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs, which typically occurs on one side of the body at a time or the bottom half of the body
Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement
Double vision or blurring of vision
Tingling or pain in numb areas of the body
Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain head movements
Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
Fatigue
Dizziness
In some cases, people with MS may also develop muscle stiffness or spasticity, slurred speech, paralysis, or problems with bladder, bowel or sexual function. Mental changes such as forgetfulness or difficulties with concentration also can occur.Your central nervous system contains millions of nerve cells joined together by nerve fibers. Electrical impulses originate in nerve cells and travel along the nerve fibers to and from your brain. Myelin is the fatty substance that coats and protects these fibers, similar to the way insulation shields electrical wires.
In people with MS, the immune system mistakenly destroys the cells that produce the myelin sheath. As a result, myelin becomes inflamed and swollen and detaches from the fibers. The detached myelin may eventually be destroyed. Firm or hardened (sclerosed) patches of scar tissue form over the fibers. When nerve impulses reach a damaged area, some impulses are blocked or delayed from traveling to or from your brain. Ultimately, this process leads to degeneration of the nerves themselves, which likely accounts for the permanent disabilities that may develop in MS.
Doctors and researchers don't understand what causes this autoimmune reaction. Some evidence suggests that genetic factors make certain people more susceptible to MS than others are. But genetic susceptibility is only part of the explanation. Something seems to trigger the condition in susceptible people. Some researchers believe the disorder is related to a protein that mimics the myelin protein, which may be introduced into the body by a virus. Other researchers believe that the immune system is somehow disrupted in people with MS, which leads to an abnormal tendency to develop autoimmune disease. The disease can also be exacerbated by hormonal changes after pregnancy.
Whatever the cause or trigger, multiple sclerosis occurs in four main patterns:
Relapsing remitting. This type of MS is characterized by clearly defined flare-ups, followed by periods of remission. The flare-ups typically appear suddenly, last a few weeks or months, and then gradually disappear. Most people with MS have this form at the time of diagnosis.
Primary progressive. People with this less common form of MS experience a gradual decline, without periods of remission. People with this form of MS are usually older than 40 when symptoms begin.
Secondary progressive. More than half the people with relapsing remitting MS eventually enter a stage of continuous deterioration referred to as secondary progressive MS. Sudden relapses may occur, superimposed upon the continuous deterioration that characterizes this type of MS.
Progressive relapsing. This is primary progressive MS with the addition of sudden episodes of new symptoms or worsened existing ones. This form is relatively rare.
2006-11-01 16:50:02
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answer #3
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answered by Brite Tiger 6
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