Time heals all wounds except relapsing-remitting MS.

And primary-progressive MS.

And secondary-progressive MS.

And whole bunch of other age-related illnesses, like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and malignancy.

At least time is good for adhesive capsulitis, alternatively known as frozen shoulder!

Multiple sclerosis

MS is a chronic disease involving immune-mediated attacks on the central nervous system. Demyelination causes mayhem.

As a parallel, Guillan-Barre acutely affects the peripheral nervous system. When it’s chronic, it’s called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polymyopathy.

Symptoms

Neurological symptoms ensue after the disease has passed a threshold.

• Optic neuritis, characterised by painful visual loss in an eye
• Numbness, weakness
• Ataxia, spasticity
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Sexual and urinary dysfunction, such as detrusor overactivity causing urgency

Clinically isolated syndrome is a one-off presentation of demyelination that can progress to MS.

Investigations

MRI can show brain lesions.

CSF analysis can show inflammation.

Evoke potential measurement can show demyelination.

Treatment

Ongoing: immunotherapy agents.

Acute relapse: high-dose corticosteroids.

Spasticity: baclofen

Spasms: benzodiazepines

Mobility: fampridine

Paroxysmal symptoms: carbamazepine

Urinary symptoms: oxybutynin

Pregnancy

The risk of MS relapse is lower during pregnancy and higher in the first 3 months after giving birth.

Summary of major demyelinating illnesses

Central nervous system: clinically isolated syndrome (acute), MS (chronic)

Peripheral nervous system: Guillan-Barre (acute), CIDP (chronic)

References

1. MS Australia. (2001). Types of MS | MS Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.msaustralia.org.au/about-ms/types-ms [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
2. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (n.d.). Definition of MS. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Definition-of-MS [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Guillain-Barre and CIDP. [online] Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/peripheral_nerve/conditions/guillain_barre_and_cidp.html [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
4. Multiple sclerosis. In: eTG complete [Internet]. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited (eTG November 2017 edition); 2017 Nov.