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Integrated Neurological Services
82 Hampton Road, Twickenham, TW2 5QS
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  1. Living with a neurological condition
  2. Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most widespread disabling neurological disorder affecting young adults In the UK there are more than 100,000 people diagnosed with MS. MS is more common in women than men. MS is a life-long condition, but medication and therapy can help manage the condition and its symptoms.


Sclerosis' means scarring or hardening of tiny patches of tissue. In MS, this occurs at multiple places in the brain and/or spinal cord. Why someone develops MS isn't known. What is known indicates it's caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.


In MS, the immune system, which typically helps to fight off infections, misidentifies myelin, which protects nerve fibres, for a foreign body and attacks it. This damages the myelin and strips it off the nerve fibres, leaving scars known as lesions or plaques. This damage interrupts messages travelling along nerve fibres – they can slow down, become distorted, or not get through at all. As well as damaging the myelin, there can sometimes be damage to the actual nerve fibres too. It's this nerve damage that causes the increase in disability that can happen over time.
MS is not a terminal illness, but it is a life-long condition. Most people are diagnosed in their 20’s or 30’s and will live with MS for 40 to 50 years. Usually, people with MS live well into their 70’s. In recent years, disease modifying drugs have been introduced for relapsing MS and they could increase life expectancy in the future as they decrease the number of relapses.


MS can trigger a variety of symptoms and can affect any part of the body. Each person with MS is affected differently. Intervals when symptoms get worse are known as "relapses" and when symptoms improve or disappear are known as "remissions". Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • fatigue
  • vision problems
  • numbness and tingling
  • muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness
  • mobility problems
  • pain
  • problems with thinking, learning and planning
  • depression and anxiety
  • sexual problems and/or bladder problems
  • speech and swallowing difficulties
    Note: most people with MS only have a few of these symptoms.

There are four main types of MS:


Relapsing-remitting MS
‘Most people with MS (around 85%) are diagnosed with the relapsing remitting form. This means that they will have periods when symptoms flare up aggressively - known as a relapse, an attack or an exacerbation - followed by periods of good or complete recovery - a remission.


Benign MS
The term benign MS is sometimes used to describe a version of relapsing remitting MS with very mild attacks separated by long periods with no symptoms.


Secondary progressive MS
Many people who are initially diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS find that, over time, their MS changes. They have fewer or no relapses but their disability increases. As this follows an initial (primary) relapsing remitting phase, this is known as secondary progressive MS


Primary progressive MS
Between 10 and 15% of people with MS are diagnosed with primary progressive MS (or less commonly chronic progressive MS). In this type of MS disability increases from the beginning, and it is rare to have any relapses’. (MS Trust. 2018)


Other rare variants of MS do exist these including, Devic's neuromyelitis optica, Balo's concentric Sclerosis, Schilder's disease and Marburg MS. Although rare, the variants are important as they often arise in the differential diagnosis for severe and acute MS presentations.

INS Programme

INS is currently unable to offer normal face-to-face services. However, we are continuing to support our clients and carers by offering virtual group sessions via Zoom videolink - please see below for details of our current programme. Read more

Published: 13th November, 2017

Updated: 19th January, 2021

Author:

Related topics:
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • For professionals
  • Living after stroke
  • For carers
  • Other conditions
  • Parkinsons

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most widespread disabling neurological disorder affecting young adults. In the UK there are more than 100,000 people diagnosed with MS. Read more

Published: 13th November, 2017

Updated: 29th June, 2020

Author:

Related topics:
  • Multiple sclerosis
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Latest

  • INS Quiz Night 2021

    INS Quiz Night 2021

    Join us online for an evening to tax your brain, delve into your trivia knowledge and get competitive! You can team up remotely with participating friends and family (we suggesting using a messaging service such as WhatsApp), or simply form a team from those in your household. Make sure to grab a snack and a beverage of your choice, then join us for a great night in by supporting INS! Our virtual Quiz Night is not to be missed, book your place now!

  • Continued suspension of INS face-to-face services

    Following recent developments in efforts to tackle the spread of the COVID-19 virus, a decision has been made to stop INS face-to-face services until further notice.

  • Latest news

    Latest news

    Find out what's been happening at INS in our latest Newsletter... INS face-to-face groups remain suspended but we continue to support our clients through video / phone contact... A hugely positive response to INS online sessions during lockdown... Over 150 people, including then Twickenham MP Sir Vince Cable, and the Mayors of Richmond and Hounslow, joined service users, staff and volunteers at York House for INS 25th Anniversary event on 17 October 2019...

  • INS Newsletter (Winter 2020)

    INS Newsletter (Winter 2020)

    Details of what's been happening at INS in recent months and plans for the coming weeks in our latest Newsletter... Find out how our staff and clients took part in the 2.6 Challenge, raising in excess of £2,000 for INS. Events included a 2.6 mile run, running on the spot for 26 minutes, and a 26-line poem! You can continue to show your support by clicking the Donate button at the top of the page.

Most read

  • What difference we make

    INS can be the difference between living and just existing.

  • What is a neurological condition?

    A neurological condition is a disease, illness or trauma that affects the central or peripheral nervous system. Examples of symptoms include paralysis, tremor, cognitive difficulties, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, confusion, pain and altered levels of consciousness.

  • Where we work

    Integrated Neurological Services (INS) provides support primarily to people who live in the London boroughs of Richmond and Hounslow. However, we may still be able to offer support to people living just outside this area (eg. in Kingston, Wandsworth, Ealing) who are within reach of our base in Twickenham.

  • Donate

    Your donation can make a difference to the lives of people with a neurological condition. Donate, hold an event, take part in a challenge - whatever you can do will make a difference.

  • Working for INS

    Come and join our team.

  • History of INS

    INS is the only organisation in the London area offering long term, professional rehabilitation and support for people with neurological conditions, through its experienced team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and social workers.

  • I wouldn’t be here talking to you today if it wasn't for INS

    I wouldn’t be here talking to you today if it wasn't for INS

  • Partnering with us

    Partnerships - INS cannot do its work alone. The best possible outcomes for our clients can be most effectively achieved from a joined-up approach that utilises the resources from a wide range of providers, both statutory and voluntary.

  • Why we do what we do

    At INS we believe that a long-term neurological condition requires a long-term approach. We believe that this should include support for carers and focus on ability not disability. this with your content

  • INS Quiz Night 2021

    INS Quiz Night 2021

    Join us online for an evening to tax your brain, delve into your trivia knowledge and get competitive! You can team up remotely with participating friends and family (we suggesting using a messaging service such as WhatsApp), or simply form a team from those in your household. Make sure to grab a snack and a beverage of your choice, then join us for a great night in by supporting INS! Our virtual Quiz Night is not to be missed, book your place now!

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