Dr Lucio D’Anna is a Consultant Neurologist at the Department of Stroke & Neurosciences at Imperial College London NHS Trust. He is also Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London.
The symptoms of MS vary widely from person to person and can affect any part of the body. The main symptoms include:
- Difficulty walking
- Vision problems, such as blurred vision
- Bladder control issues
- Numbness or tingling in different parts of the body
- Muscle stiffness and spasms
- Problems with balance and coordination
- Problems with thinking, learning and planning
Depending on the type of MS, symptoms may come and go in phases, or get steadily worse over time.
Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
A multiple sclerosis diagnosis is completed using a personal consultation and medical testing. It is based on clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture, blood tests and evoked potentials.
The diagnosis is made by a consultant neurologist who specialises in the treatment of MS.
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis depends on the specific symptoms and difficulties the person has. It may include the treatment of relapses of MS symptoms (with steroid medication), treatment of specific MS symptoms, or for example treatment to reduce the number of relapses (disease-modifying therapies).
In the cases of increasing neurological disability, it is essential to sufficiently support the patients in their rehabilitation and disability management needs. In every case, the patient is supported by a team of different healthcare professionals working together.