The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine defines MS as a nerve disorder caused by destruction of the insulating layer surrounding neurons in the brain and spinal cord.


Like any household power cord, the wire of a human neuron is covered in an insulated sheath. When the sheath breaks down, the electric signal gets disrupted. In addition, scar tissue formed over the broken sheath interfere with the signals even more. This scar tissue forms randomly, and unpredictably, in multiple areas of the central nervous system – hence the name Multiple Sclerosis.


Since this is a neurological disease the symptoms are wide and varied. The most common symptom is weakness in extremities. Weakness in the legs is typically the first symptom noticed my MS patients. Other common symptoms are tremors, fatigue, incontinence, speech difficulty, numbness, and a host of others.


But there is hope, and many organizations work aggressively for new treatments.


For more information, please visit the National MS Society.