Have you ever heard of a neurological disorder, Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease of the central nervous system, mostly progressive, and potentially devastating if left untreated. True to its name, it strikes the nervous system causing first inflammation and then the subsequent scars (sclerosis) at multiple sites. The parts of the central nervous system mostly affected include the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord. Oftentimes, the eye nerve(optic nerve) is the first to be struck by this unpredictable disease. It is an autoimmune disease meaning that the vicim's own immune system that is supposed to defend the body (including the nervous system), somehow goes awry and starts attacking what it is supposed to protect.
There is no simplistic explanation for this kind of deviant, perverse, self-injurious behaviour of the rogue elements of the immune system. A vast array of hypothetical explanations are put out there in the medical as well as the lay media. The most plausible theory is that some viruses mislead the immune system to manufacture template antibodies against parts of the nervous system. Other suspected causes or contributors to exacerbation of the disease are environmental, geographical, and genetic factors. The course of the disease is mostly fluctuating (remitting-relapsing), sometimes steadily progressive, and never the same from one patient to another. The age group mostly affected is between 20 to 40 years with a preponderance favouring women. Another interesting demographic fact is that the farther you live from the equator, the higher are your chances of acquiring Multiple Sclerosis. Additionally, the paediatric population (particularly adolescents) is not entirely spared by this potentially crippling disease. For effective multiple sclerosis treatment in Dubai, visit Dr. Arun Sharma. He has done extensive research on the diagnostic methods and treatments of this multi-faceted disease which attacks the central nervous system at the site and time of its own choosing, and always leaves a scar behind.
What are the initial symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?
The initial symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis include:- Blurred vision,loss of appreciation of colours, pain in the eye (Optic Neuritis)
- Numbness in the face, trunk, or extremities of acute onset
- Tingling, burning, pinprick, ant-crawling sensations in any part of the body
- Weakness in any extremity of sudden onset
- Depression, chronic fatigue, tremors
- Muscle stiffness (spasticity)
- Urinary problems
- Dizziness
- Unexpected difficulty in standing, maintaining balance, and walking
- In the advanced case scenario, multiple sclerosis due to accumulative burden of disability leaves a person unable to see, walk, talk, or worse still in a vegetative state.
Many patients over a period of time develop cognitive impairment (dementia). Mild symptoms like transient blurring of vision, numbness in one arm or leg, lack of balance while walking are usually neglected or misdiagnosed. Consult Dr. Arun Sharma for accurate and early diagnosis followed by prompt, well thought-out, customized and effective multiple sclerosis treatment in Dubai.
Confirmation of the problem
Expert and experienced neurologist, Dr. Arun Sharma analyses the symptoms, examines the patient, proceeds to order some essential investigations, and pins the diagnosis. As the adage goes, "a stitch in time saves nine." Prompt diagnosis and instituting a treatment plan after a thorough, well-informed discussion with the patient and their family can save a whole lot of inevitable misery later in life. During an acute attack there is an emphasis on mitigating the inflammation of the affected parts of the central nervous system (in one-third of cases the optic nerve), and thereby allaying the troublesome and often incapacitating symptoms. Later, each patient is evaluated in a great detail and the uniqueness of the disease for a given patient is discerned and determined.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. An individualized and effective treatment not only diminishes the progression rate and annualized relapse rate of this mysterious self-inflictive disease, but also saves the patient from being non-ambulatory or immobile and consequently alleviating the burden on the caregivers. Currently, a precise and permanent cure of this disease is not available. Nonetheless, we hope that continuously evolving progress in the sphere of medical science can finally achieve what was unthinkable just a decade ago; finding a cure for multiple sclerosis. Suffice it to say that we are almost already there, on the threshold of stopping this relentless, dreadful disease in its tracks.
Dr. Arun Sharma in the course of his practice, each and every time he meets a patient of Multiple Sclerosis and their family, relies on the conventional age-old, Hippocratic technique of careful listening, maintaining a calm demeanour, feeling empathy, showing respect, and offering reassurance to the patient. Appreciating the challenges a patient of multiple sclerosis confronts on a daily basis and preparing him/her for those challenges is an onerous and delicate task. He walks the patient through a well-informed decision-making process regarding the treatment plan. Multiple sclerosis is a complicated disease and an ability to maintain a sustained doctor-patient communication is absolutely essential. Ensuring the safety of the patient is, of course, the primary concern.
Currently, we have over 20 medications to treat MS and a new one is being developed almost every year. Some newer medications are oral prescriptions and are thereby easy to administer. There are some injections which are available as pen devices and can be self-administered at home by the patient. Some novel therapies have emerged in recent years wherein just a couple of intravenous infusions a year is all that needs to be done. Homologous stem cell therapy is another burgeoning modality of treatment.
Feel free to contact us for more details about multiple sclerosis treatment in Dubai. It is the expertise of the neurologist, Dr. Arun Sharma, that helps in delivering the optimal outcome. Three decades of experience is itself a testament that Dr. Arun Sharma can effectively treat patients. Do not lose hope, it is possible be independent and preserve all the vital functions of the body with the currently available array of medications blended with the hallmark compassionate optimism of Dr. Arun Sharma. He is always available to discuss and provide support, oversee symptom management, and optimize effective doctor-patient communication. A typical MS patient most likely has surfed the internet extensively and feels quite scared and uncertain about the future. This is where the expertise of Dr Arun Sharma comes to the fore, to find the positive prognostic factors and a customized treatment for the patient, given the heterogeneous nature of the disease. A very noteworthy breakthrough in the treatment of this potentially incurable disease is HSCT or Homologous Stem Cell Transplantation. Dr Arun Sharma is networking with some leading institutions in the world that specialize in this mode of therapy
