Understand Multiple Sclerosis

THE Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society KZN will host a wellness day, focusing on the emotional side of being a patient and carer, on Saturday, 19 May at Bethany Gardens, 22 Hoogvorst Street, Pinetown from 9am to noon.

World Multiple Sclerosis Day is commemorated on 25 May. Dee Munks chairman of the MS society KZN, said the society is discovering more and more people diagnosed with this disease.

“It can strike at any age so our aim for the next couple of years is to create as much awareness as we can,” she said.

MS is an autoimmune disease whereby the body’s own immune system “attacks” its own myelin, which is the protective layer around the brain and spine cells or neurons.

This prevents the electrical messages from travelling along their natural paths telling the body what to do. This then ends up with scars forming in the brain called scleroses and there are many of them, hence the word multiple.

ALSO READ: Gilly shares her inspiring story of courage and hope

“These can form anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. Where they form, will determine which part of the body is affected. Some of the early signs are optic neuritis- blurry vision, pain behind the eye, numbness or tingling travelling down your spine, legs or face, dizziness, falling or tripping easily, extreme fatigue and muscle spasms to name a few. Each patient thus develops his or her own specific collection of symptoms. There is no known cause or cure,” she said.

Diagnosis can only be made with an MRI and spine tap and treatment ends up only managing the symptoms.

“Because it is known as an autoimmune disease, the gut is the first place to start, so we have found that patients who follow an almost raw and gluten free diet, benefit the most,” Dee said.

Talks at the wellness day will be helpful to all people facing difficult times, being a carer, coping with difficult emotions. Speakers include the popular Deborah Don (Healing from Within), occupational therapist, Helen Roome, Mala Naidoo, who will speak on the effect of a chemical imbalance, and carer expert Marge Warnes.

RSVP by Monday 14 May to Corrie at haroldthom@telkomsa.net. Contact Dee Munks on 083 411 4282.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts