Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain as well as the spinal cord. The typical symptoms of this disease include tingling, weakness, numbness, and blurred vision along with thinking problems, urinary problems, and muscle stiffness. The treatment of multiple sclerosis helps in relieving the symptoms while delaying the progress of the disease.

Diagnosing spinal sclerosis

The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is made based on ruling out other conditions which may be responsible for producing similar kinds of signs and symptoms. Multiple sclerosis may be identical to spinal stenosis as both affect the spine; however, both are incredibly different.

• Blood Tests – They aid in ruling out different diseases which may produce similar symptoms as multiple sclerosis. Tests to check for particular biomarkers connected to multiple sclerosis is presently under development.
• Lumbar Puncture – In this spinal stenosis diagnosis process, a small sample of fluid is removed from the spinal canal for analysis in the laboratory. This test is also used to rule out infections along with various other symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis.

Can multiple sclerosis be cured?

It is essential to understand that multiple sclerosis cannot be cured. The treatment, therefore, is primarily focused on speeding up the recovery from an attack of multiple sclerosis, slowing the pace of progression and managing the symptoms. The standard treatments for multiple sclerosis include:

• Corticosteroids – Such medicines include intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisone, which help in reducing inflammation of the nerve. Side effects of these medicines include a rise in blood pressure, insomnia, fluid retention, and mood swings.
• Plasma Exchange – In this treatment of multiple sclerosis, the liquid part of the blood is removed and then separated from the blood cells. It is then mixed with a protein solution and put back into the body. Plasma exchange can also be used when the symptoms are new and severe and when they have not responded to the steroids.

Thus, to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, it is crucial to get a proper diagnosis.