Multiple sclerosis is a disease that has gained a lot of attention in recent years because it has been diagnosed more frequently and because those affected are calling for more funds to be allocated to research into this pathology. In today's article we are going to take a closer look at the multiple sclerosis mimicking diseasesThe symptoms and the origin of this ailment are explained first.
What is multiple sclerosis and its most common symptoms?
Multiple Sclerosis has been classified as a clinicopathological entity for more than a century, but its cause is still unknown. It is characterised by damage to the central nervous system through the loss of myelin and a decrease in axons. The Multiple sclerosis is characterised by a number of symptoms such as weakness, paraesthesias, vision problems, intention tremor, ataxia, profound sensory disturbance, emotional disturbances and cognitive impairment.
Are multiple sclerosis and ALS the same thing?
Many people mistakenly believe that the multiple sclerosis and ALS are the same thing. In the following lines we focus on explaining the similarities and differences between the two diseases. The symptoms they share include a feeling of weakness and muscle stiffness, which usually results in difficulty in moving the limbs and a pronounced lack of motor coordination. The multiple sclerosis and its early symptoms include tingling and difficulty walking.
On the other hand, however, as multiple sclerosis progresses, emotional and cognitive problems begin to occur: anxiety attacks, sadness and grief, as well as memory lapses. In contrast, ALS does not present cognitive problems but a severe worsening of mobility and all motor function, which continues to worsen gradually. Even in the later stages of ALS, patients often have problems with swallowing and breathing.
Diseases with symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis
In addition to ALS, there are other diseases that mimic multiple sclerosis symptomatology. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and neuromyelitis optica are some of the most relevant ailments. Below, we explain in detail the characteristics of these diseases and provide you with a link to the treatment of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia consists of a group of problems and disorders in the musculoskeletal system and the most common symptoms are extreme fatigue, persistent pain near the joints, and also stiffness of varying intensity in the muscles, tendons and surrounding soft tissue. Here is a link to more information on the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating disorder with one main symptom: fatigue from which the body never seems to recover. This weakness, muscle pain, memory lapses or poor mental concentration, difficulties in falling asleep, make up the main symptomatology of this pathology. At BioSalud Day Hospital we have developed a natural treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Neuromyelitis optica.
Finally, another disease that mimics multiple sclerosis is neuromyelitis optica. It is a chronic inflammatory disease with effects that attack the optic nerve and medulla. Its symptoms usually focus on high-intensity bouts of optic neuritis, which can lead to blindness and also to paraplegia of varying severity.
Is it possible to confuse multiple sclerosis with anxiety?
It is possible to mistaking multiple sclerosis for anxiety because symptoms such as emotional disturbances can be misleading. Often, patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis develop anxiety because of uncertainty about their future and because it is a pathology that is currently classified as incurable. We can therefore conclude that anxiety is one of the consequences of multiple sclerosis and that is the reason why it is linked to multiple sclerosis.
What is the treatment to cure multiple sclerosis?
The treatment of multiple sclerosis is one of the specialities of our clinic. Before the appropriate measures can be taken, it is necessary to determine the type of multiple sclerosis the patient suffers from. An accurate diagnosis of the following types of multiple sclerosis will allow it to be treated in the most appropriate way possible.
- Primary progressive multiple sclerosis which affects 1 in 6 people at the time of diagnosis.
- Remitting multiple sclerosis recurrent which affects 5 out of 6 people when the initial diagnosis is made.
- Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis affects 3 out of 7 MS sufferers a decade after diagnosis.
Although there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis, treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. We are convinced that this article on multiple sclerosis mimicking diseases It will have helped you to distinguish between the different conditions that can cause confusion, although if you still have any doubts, we recommend that you contact our healthcare staff who specialise in multiple sclerosis.
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