An unpredictable illness
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable illness and does not progress in a uniform manner. The course of the disease, the type and severity of symptoms or subsequent impairments differ in each individual and are impossible to predict accurately at diagnosis. Due to its unpredictability, it is difficult to know which individuals will progress to a more advanced form of the disease and who will remain stable.
Whilst the disease varies greatly from person to person, most people with MS can expect a normal or near normal life expectancy. Medication, such as disease-modifying drugs, can help someone with MS to live a full and active life, alleviating many of the symptoms of the disease and, importantly, slowing down the course of the disease.
There are four kinds of MS: Relapsing-remitting, Secondary progressive, Primary progressive and Benign. The degree of disability differs, for each, typically, as illustrated in the diagram.
Distinctive signs of MS
Distinctive signs of MS include relapses and manifestations of a new symptom, or a worsening of an existing symptom, lasting for more than 24 hours. In general, symptoms develop over the course of a few days, remain constant for three or four weeks and are resolved in about a month.
For a detailed overview of each kind of MS click on one of the links below. The information includes a general prognosis (predicted outcome) for people at each stage of the illness.
