A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to Back Surgery

I was diagnosed with MS.

What is MS?

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervsous system (brain, optic nerves and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder.

MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, depression, memory and concentration problems. The problems can be permanent or can come and go. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. MS is not a fatal disease and the vast majority of people live a normal life span.

MS symptoms result when an immune system attack affects myelin, the protein insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system. Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened "sclerotic" tissue. The loss of myelin interferes with the tansmission of nerve signals.