7 Surprising Facts About Multiple Sclerosis

3 min readApr 28, 2022

1. Your own body causes MS.

Because MS is an autoimmune disease, your own immune system is the culprit here, as it attacks the nervous system by mistake. These attacks cause hard scars (sclerosis) that interfere with nerve signals. That's we Warriors are so sensitive.

BUT

2. MS is treatable.

Although there is no cure for MS, treatment options DO exist. Disease-modifying drugs help delay and often alter previous damage. Before 2010, injections and infusions were our drugs of choice. Oral medications became an option in 2010, offering relief from injections and infusions. In addition to these hardcore treatments, supplementary medications can treat the symptoms of MS, like muscle spasms, weakness, and fatigue.

DID YOU KNOW?

3. MS is more common in cold climates.

The farther from the equator you live, the more likely you are to have MS. The nearer the equator you live, the lower your risk of developing MS is than if you live in the United States or Canada. Which I find ironic since heat REALLY bothers me and many MS Warriors I know.

BUT WARRIORS NEED THE SUN

4. Vitamin D may lower your risk of MS.

One reason MS is less common in sunny parts of the world may be vitamin D. Vitamin D may help regulate the immune system as it serves to repair the protective covering (myelin) of nerves that MS damages.

THIS IS CRAZY BUT TRUE

5. MS gets better during pregnancy.

They diagnosed me on July 1, 2001, six months after the birth of my one and only child. The nine months of my pregnancy were the most healthy I ever felt. I had amazing energy and exercised daily. After giving birth, I weighed less than before. I didn’t know about multiple sclerosis, sclerosis, nor had I any indications of living with the disease.

I wasn’t prepared to be an “older” mom (I was 40 years old!) and even less prepared to battle the MonSter.

Imagine my surprise to learn that giving birth exasperates the symptoms of MS; thus serving as the delivery service for a diagnosis as well as a baby:)

Studies show pregnancy often makes MS symptoms better because of changes in hormone levels.

6. MS may affect the mind more than the body.

Cognitive changes affect up to three-fourths of people with MS, making it harder to think clearly and quickly. In fact, cognitive symptoms are often the reason people with MS stop working outside the home. This bit of trivia may have played a big part in my early retirement, although the physical activities of my personal MonSter pounded the last nail in that life decision.

CONTROVERSIAL COMMENT:

7. MS is not an inherited disease.

Supposedly, the risk for the disease might be inherited; not the disease itself. The research (date inconclusive) concludes only 15% of people with MS have a family history of the disease. Identical twins have a one-in-three chance of having MS, even though the siblings share the same genes. Finding the triggers for MS genes is a sizeable area of research and may help with preventing MS or lessening its effects.