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Diagnosis Paper: Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Victoria Brokaw

Salt Lake Community College

OTA 1020 Introduction to Occupational Therapy

Brittnee Hauser COTA/L

January 29, 2015

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Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease where the nerve cells in brain and spinal
cord are damaged due to demyelination. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease affecting
the central nervous system. Electrical signal stimulation to nerve cells is affected greatly. Many
people affected by Multiple sclerosis experience a range of signs and symptoms depending on
the amount of damage and the severity of the disease.
Description of the Diagnosis and Symptoms
In 1868, a French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot was the very first one to describe this
medical condition. People considered him a founder of modern neurology. His first patient was a
young woman who had a tremor that has never been seen before. He noted her other
neurological problems including slurred speech and abnormal eye movements, and compared
them to other patients he had seen. When she died, he examined her brain and found the
characteristic scars or plaques of MS. Dr. Charcot wrote a complete description of the disease
and the changes in the brain that accompany it (Rolak, 2009).
Multiple sclerosis symptoms are different in each individual. Some of the symptoms
include: fatigue, difficulty walking, weakness, numbness or tingling, vision problems, pain, etc.
One individual might experience just a few symptoms while the other could have many of them.
It depends on the amount of nerve cells that are damaged as well as how far the disease has
progressed.
What is the best way to diagnose Multiple sclerosis? How effective are the methods that
are used? I cant be the only one asking these questions. In the Annals of Neurology journal I
read about the McDonald Criteria. It provides Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis that is

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helpful to the neurologist for diagnosing the disease properly. Main focus of the McDonald
Criteria was to present a diagnostic scheme that could be used by the neurologists to better and
more reliably diagnosis MS, balancing early diagnosis with the need to avoid false-positive
diagnosis. They used MRI to focus on detailed neurological history and examination. (Polman, et
al., 2005)
Progression and Prognosis
Multiple sclerosis is irreversible and there is no cure for it. Progression of this disease is
variable on how early it is detected and how far along it has spread. Also it depends on how
much the individual with such disease is affected by it. Many patients affected by Multiple
sclerosis will need some sort of aide with walking and doing the simple tasks that many take for
granted. Whether it is using a walking device such as a cane or a walker, or being wheelchair
bound. On the other hand, some may be able to walk without any assistance at all.
Prognosis for Multiple sclerosis is unpredictable. Most people with this disease have as
good of life expectancy as someone who doesnt have it. There are many factors that play a role
with Multiple sclerosis. With the disease differential from one person to another, most doctors
dont know if the disease will worse or improve. Multiple sclerosis affects quality of life and not
how long the person will live. With that being said, a person who takes good care of their body,
will have a better quality of life versus someone who doesnt take good care of themselves.
Personal Reflection on the effect on Areas of Occupation
I believe that Multiple sclerosis makes a big impact on the area of occupation that one
chooses. It can make it more difficult for a person to do the simple tasks of life. I have worked
with people whose lives were affected by Multiple sclerosis. Every single person has expressed

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their fears and concerns. One patient mentioned that because of the disease she cant enjoy
gardening as much as she did before she got diagnosed. She used to be out in her garden every
day for several hours and cant do that now because she gets really tired and her muscles just
dont want to work. Others have said that it is really frustrating not to be able to do tasks the
way they did before the diagnosis.

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References
Chris H. Polman MD, Stephen C. Reingold PhD, et al. (2005). Diagnostic criteria for multiple
sclerosis: 2005 revisions to the McDonald Criteria. Annals of Neurology, 58, 840-846.
DOI: 10.1002/ana.20703
Loren A. Rolak, M.D., (2009). The Basic Facts The History of MS. Retrieved from
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/NationalMSSociety/media/MSNationalFiles/Brochures/Broch
ure-History-of-Multiple-Sclerosis.pdf