Multiple Sclerosis

Accepting some of the recent terminal illnesses and deaths in my family has been difficult but considering their age, they have lived a good life. A long life. Yesterday I was told my sister-in-law most likely has multiple sclerosis. She's 47.

She's had unexplained falls for awhile,painful spasms which resulted in more falls and fractured a vertebrae from the falls. Considering MS is a disease I'm familiar with, I hope it's not something else. Something worse.

We both know the reality of Multiple Sclerosis, we took care of several individuals with MS. My sister-in-law worked in nursing 15+ years, to my 12. I have a spine injury that forced me to leave nursing.

Every diagnostic test is pointing to Multiple Sclerosis and the Dr has told her he wants to do one more test to confirm the diagnosis. But most likely it is MS.  CT scans, &MRI show spots on her brain. Lesions?

My husband has also suffered from unexplained muscle spasms for years. His last Dr prescribed muscle relaxers instead of trying to find out what is causing the spasms. The spasms he has comes on sporadically, and his muscles seize up. Sometimes it takes 45 minutes for the muscles to ease. He always uses the excuse the muscles in his legs are damaged from being electrocuted, which he does have significant damage but the spasms started 15 years after. Sometimes the spasms make him fall to the ground.

Maybe it's time to get him rechecked? Sometimes the unknown diagnosis is more terrifying than knowing.

Like other neuromuscular diseases there is no cure for MS. Symptoms can be treated as they present themselves or after relapses.

" The average life expectancy is 30 years from onset, being 5 to 10 years lower than that of unaffected people. Almost 40% of people with MS reach the seventh decade of life.  Nevertheless, two-thirds of the deaths are directly related to the consequences of the disease.  Suicide is more common, while infections and other complications are especially dangerous for the more disabled. Although most people lose the ability to walk before death, 90% are capable of independent walking at 10 years from onset, and 75% at 15 years" (Wikipedia)