How dangerous is multiple sclerosis?

Question

Well...I wanted to know more about multiple sclerosis and so decided to ask you a question...My mother has ms for about 27 years now and im only 16 years old and obviously my biggest fear is to loose her at this age...Right now she is getting very very worse. Test have resulted that she is having problems in her brain and in her spine...And it is worrying me so much...Even now she haven't any strenght to hold a peace of paper in her hands and it is so sad..She has also problems in her eyes and she cant walk...Not adding that she has problems with her bladder and stomach...Lately she also discovered that she has osteoporosis...So please can you tell me how far can this illness go and if can reach the point of death???

Thankyou very much

Answer 1

My mom had MS my whole life and died when I was 8 (10 years ago now). I'm really sorry that you have to go through it too. It started in my mom's eyes and then she wasn't able to walk, then she couldn't change or bathe herself and had to have a machine hooked up to feed her and go to the bathroom. She was constantly in and out of the hospital for the last two years of it and was on a hospital bed when she was at home. There's currently no cure for MS. Mild cases can be managed but severe cases will lead to death. It's best to try and not think about what will happen but to cherish every moment you have left. Again, I'm sorry. Let's hope for a cure some day.

Answer 2

MS affects people differently.  The symptoms experienced during the course of the disease depend on the part or parts of the CNS affected.

I'm sorry to hear that her condition is deteriorating but it's inevitable.  At some point she may require an indwelling urine catheter and may ebcome bed-bound.  The visual problems may progress to blindness but I hope it stops at blurred or double vision.  If she eventually finds it too difficult to swallow, she may have a gastrostomy tube placed for liquid feedings.  If respiratory problems arise due to weakness of the ventilatory muscles (respiratory failure), she could require a tracheostomy tube and (initally) a ventilator.  She will no longer be able to speak.  There are a lot of maybes and could bes.  Not knowing her case, I couldn't predict exactly what's going to happen, just some things that could happen.

I'm pasting this next bit of info for you because it's already in writing:  "Generally, MS follows one of four courses:

1.  Relapsing-remitting, where symptoms may fade and then recur at random for many years. The disease does not advance during the remissions.

2.  Secondary progressive, which initially follows a relapsing-remitting course. Later on, it becomes steadily progressive.

3.  Primary progressive, where the disease is progressive from the start. This course of MS can be devastating.

4.  Progressive relapsing, where steady deterioration of nerve function begins when symptoms first appear. Symptoms appear and disappear, but nerve damage continues. Few people have this course of MS."

Most people live out a fairly normal lifespan even as the disease progresses and death from MS is rare and usually from a rare malignant form of MS.  But there are those who live for about 30 years more after the initial diagnosis of MS.  She may ultimately require total care.  One goal is to encourage and maintain independence and mobility for as long as possible.  Another goal is to balance activity with rest.

I'm giving you a link to the National MS Society.  Please click on it and read what they have to offer in the way of information, support and hope.  God bless you.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org

Answer 3

Hi, I am sorry to hear your mother's disease is progressing. I don't know what type of MS your mother has. Can you tell us? I have the relapsing remitting form of the disease. A lot of times my disease gets worse but then I improve again. As an example, six years ago, I was blind in my left eye. My speech was so slurred no one could understand me. My balance was horrible. I could not navigate the slightest incline. My ability to think clearly disappeared. I needed help every hour of every day. And then six months passed by and the symptoms disappeared. I went back to work, back to the gym and resumed my social life. All my cognitive powers returned as well. The people who answered your question obviously deal with a lot of worse case scenarios. But VERY VERY FEW cases are that severe. And MS IS NOT A FATAL disease. People with MS live a normal or near normal lfe span. Please go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Web site and read about this disease. Just type NMSS.ORG into your browswer. Their site will come up. Find the local chapter near you or just call their 800 number and talk with someone there. They can reassure you that this is not a deadly disease. There are no mortality statistics for MS because people do not die of the disease. Some poeple do die of a complication caused by MS. BUT THIS IS SO VERY RARE. Your mother most likely will not need a breathing tube or any other apparatus. People are giving the thumbs down to the folks who answered you because their answers are not correct. Unfortunately, many people get on here and answer who either are horribly misinformed or have access to people who have the worst form of MS. They don't see the thousands of people who have MS and work every day or experience relapses and then go through  periods of remarkable improvement. I have had MS for 20 years. I drop pencils and papers all the time. I am not weak at all. I do have trouble with the feeling in my hands and often do not grasp items tightly enough. You are most welcome to email me. My name is Laura. Take care, honey.  Stop spending your time worrying so much and get some education about this disease and get out there and HAVE SOME FUN!!

Answer 4

Of course it will lead to death. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but it will happen.