Multiple Sclerosis

Hey Guys.
Well I am back from Townsville, but wish I could have stayed. I went up to see my mother whom is not doing very well at the moment. For those of you who dont know, my mother has M.S or Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (CNS), that produces mental and physical symptoms that may relapse, remit, and/or worsen over time.

In the 19th century, French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot examined nerve fibers under the microscope and noticed unusual plaques, or lesions, in the nerve fibers that send messages to and from the brain and spinal cord. He identified a pattern of symptoms that seemed to appear and disappear over a period of time. One day they were present, another day they were not.

The two weeks I spent with my mum I noticed how on some days you would find it hard to believe there was anything wrong with her at all! And then, she would wake up and not know who you were, or what you were doing in her house.

She found it difficult to finish complete sentences and often became frustrated because the word was right there, yet she could not get her tongue around it in order to say it. She often complained of pins and needles in her hands and feet, which prevented her on most days to open doors, lids on jars, pick up cups of hot tea and not even realise that it is hot, and would be constantly losing her balance. Quite often falling and injuring herself. She also experienced total numbness on the side of her face, quite often the right side where she would constantly ask me to help her get whatever it is on her face, off!

It was hard seeing mum like this for the first time. And to be honest, I was rather ignorant of the disease and its effects until I saw what it did to my mother.

Much progress has been made in understanding the disease, but the exact cause is still unknown. New methods of diagnosis and treatment have improved the long-term outcome for many people living with MS.

To fully understand what M.S is and its effects, let's understand how normal nerve cells work. The central nervous system contains the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. Each nerve cell (neuron) has a body with branching tendrils (axons). The axons of one nerve cell communicate with the axons of other nerve cells, sending and receiving messages from the brain and spinal cord. These messages tell the body how and when to perform a certain action. They communicate movements, touches, smells, sounds, and sights.

The axons of most neurons are wrapped in a protective insulating sheath called myelin, which has the same function as the material wrapped around electrical wires—myelin protects the neurons. The nerve cells send electrical impulses along their insulated fibers to other nerve cells. Impulses require less energy and move faster along fibers covered with myelin than those without.

There are cells in the central nervous system that produce myelin, cells that remove debris during damage, and cells that help substances pass through to the brain and heal damaged nerves.When myelin is damaged, dense, scar-like tissue forms around nerve fibers throughout the brain and spinal cord. These scars, sometimes referred to as sclerosis, plaques, or lesions, can slow down or completely prevent the transmission of signals between nerve cells. Messages from the brain and spinal cord cannot reach other parts of the body. Damage, or scarring, occurs in many places throughout the central nervous system, hence the term "Multiple Sclerosis."

Although it is still uncertain exactly how far the disease has developed or progressed in mum, it is evident that she has rapidly shown signs of deterioration. And it was hard fo me to believe that the person who stood in front of me a year ago with no indication there was something wrong, was now finding it hard to stand alone.

Although mum has her bad days, she also has her good days and will make every attempt to keep herself occupied. No matter what it is. But she is also aware that the rest of her life is un predictable. So much is she prepared for this, that she has asked me to be her enduring power of attorney, and when the time comes ( Hopefully not TOO soon ) to be the executor of her will.

Not exactly something that I wanted to be responsible for, but she asked for my help, and I am gonna help her. Because she is my mum, and the only one I have.

I love you mum. Dont give up hope. There is still a long way to go.