by Cheryl Woodman
In Social
Clips.
Multiple
Sclerosis News Today
November 16, 2017
Walking
into your doctor’s office can feel like walking into another world. Are they
speaking English? Do they understand you? Have they correctly diagnosed your
symptoms with the relevant medical terminology? What is extremely personal to
you, suddenly feels clinical. Terms like ataxia, diplopia and hemiparesis
are flying around. You feel frustrated, confused and worried.
This
list of most commonly used MS terms will help push you past these emotions,
empowering you to take proactive control of your diagnosis.
Ataxia: A phrase used to describe the inability of your brain to
voluntarily coordinate and control your muscles. When experiencing ataxia you
may sway, stumble and slump.
Autoimmune
disease: MS is a type of
autoimmune disease. All autoimmune diseases have the same cause, a perception
of the body to see itself as a foreigner. When foreign matter is identified
your immune system is activated. Therefore in autoimmune conditions your body
attacks itself.
Axon: The part of a nerve that sends electrical impulses or
“information” to surrounding tissues.
Babinski sign: An abnormal response to the Plantar reflex which
is triggered when a blunt object is stroked down the sole of your foot. The
normal response is a curling of your foot. The Babinski sign is the opposite,
it’s an upward flexing.
Bell’s Palsy: Facial paralysis.
Chronic: MS is often described as chronic. A condition or illness
that is experienced for a long time and may also be constantly recurring. The
opposite of this phrase is acute.
Contracture: A descriptive for permanent muscle or joint shortening as
a consequence of your muscles and tendons remaining too tight for too long.
Diplopia: Double vision.
Dysesthesia: Abnormal sensations which can be created by touch or may
appear spontaneously. If you experience dysesthesia you’re likely to feel
sensations of burning, itching, wetness, pins and needles or even electric
shocks.
Dysarthria: The inability to speak normally or pronounce words
properly. Dysarthria occurs when the muscles that produce speech are affected
by the progression of your MS.
Foot drop: A side effect caused by damage to a specific collection
of nerves responsible for movement of your forefoot. You’ll often hear this
referred to as a gait abnormality which simply means a change to your way of
walking.
Hemiparesis: Having weakness throughout one side of your body.
Hemiplegia: The experience of complete paralysis throughout one side
of your body.
Interferons: A type of protein naturally made by your body that when
released tells neighbouring cells to attack a sensed virus or bacteria,
triggering your immune system.
Myelin/Myelin
Sheath: A protective fatty
substance that coats many of your axons, the part of a nerve that sends
communications.
Demyelination: Damage caused to the protective coating of myelin found
within your nerves.
Myelitis: An inflammation of the spinal cord causing an
interruption of nerve communications to your body. Paralysis and sensory loss
are common symptoms of myelitis.
Neuron: A nerve cell whose job is to send and receive information
through electrical signals. Your nerve cells work together in an expansive
network collectively triggering you to move and to experience sensations.
Nystagmus: Nicknamed as dancing eyes, nystagmus is the involuntary
movement of your eyes.
Oligodendrocytes: A type of cell responsible for creating the fatty and protective
myelin sheath your body uses to protect specific portions of all nerves.
Optic neuritis: Optic refers to your eye sight and neuritis describes the
inflammation of the nerve. Hearing these two words together describes a
symptom of MS often leading to disruptions of your vision.
Plaque/lesion: The medical term used to describe scars appearing in the
white matter of your brain and spinal cord. The parts responsible for sending
communications. These plaques occur as your body attempts to repair the nerve
damage being caused by MS.
Paraparesis: Weakness in your lower body.
Paraplegia: Paralysis of your lower body.
Paresis: A weakening of the muscles in any part of your body.
Paresthesiae: A feeling that seems to have no cause. Pins and needles
is the most commonly experienced, similar sensations that may feel like
tingling or prickling are also signs of paresthesiae.
Sclerosis: The Greek word for hard, sclerosis describes the
stiffening of your body’s tissue. In multiple sclerosis, the phrase is used to
describe the formation of plaques or lesions.
Spasticity: Hear this word
quickly and you might hear plasticity. The two words have a lot in common.
Spasticity is used to describe the opposite of an object that’s referred to as
having plasticity. It’s specifically the stiffening or tightening of your
muscles leading to problems with movement and speech.
Trigeminal
Neuralgia: A stabbing or burning
sensation experienced on the side of your face. It’s a consequence of damage to
a specific nerve called the trigeminal nerve which is found in your brain.
T-cell/T-lymphocyte: A specific type of cell that forms a vital part of your
immune system. T-cells help to create inflammation and kill neighbouring cells
they perceive as foreign. This is important when your body uses it
appropriately but when you have MS, your body uses these processes to attack
itself.
Multiple
Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the
disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This
content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice,
diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another
qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical
condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it
because of something you have read on this website.
In
support of Multiple Sclerosis research:
Twitter
hashtags:
#MS
#MultipleSclerosis
#fums
#mseducation
#msawareness
#curems
#mymsme
#MSwarrior
#MSstrong
#fightms
#MSAwarenessMonth
#stumblingprincess
#OMS
#WalkMS
#WalkTogether
#WeAreStrongerThanMS
#mssucks
#movingmountainsforms
#lesion
#myelin
#demyelination
#disease
#brain
#vertigo
#cure
NEVER GIVE UP!
