Medical similarities between MS and M.E. The reason I'm envious is not so much because of the type of illness MS ismedically compared to M.E. M.E. and MS are actually very similar medicallyin many ways, as the following list demonstrates.
Table 1. Medical similarities between MS and M.E.*
MS is primarily a neurological disease, i.e. a disease of the centralnervous system (CNS).
M.E. is primarily a neurological disease, i.e. a disease of thecentral nervous system (CNS).
Demyelination (damage to the myelin sheath surrounding nerves) has beendocumented in MS.
Demyelination (damage to the myelin sheath surrounding nerves)has been documented in M.E.
Evidence of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid has been documentedin MS.
Evidence of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid hasbeen documented in M.E.
No single definitive laboratory test is yet available for MS but a series of tests are available which can objectively confirm the diagnosis with some certainty. No single definitive laboratory test is yet available for M.E.but a series of tests are available which can objectively confirm the diagnosis with a high degree of certainty.
MS can be severely disabling and cause significant numbers of patients to be bedbound or wheelchair-reliant.
M.E. can be severely disabling and cause significant numbers ofpatients to be bedbound, wheelchair-reliant or housebound.
MS can be fatal (either from the disease itself or from complications arising from the disease)
M.E. can be fatal (either from the disease itself or fromcomplications arising from the disease) MS significantly reduces life expectancy.
M.E. significantly reduces life expectancy. (M.E. reduces lifeexpectancy by a greater period than MS: see Table 3.)
Symptoms/problems which occur in MS include: impaired vision, nystagmus,afferent pupillary defect, loss of balance and muscle coordination, cog wheelmovement of the legs, slurred speech, difficulty speaking (scanning speech and slow hesitant speech), difficulty writing, difficulty swallowing,proprioceptive dysfunction, abnormal sensations (numbness, pins and needles), shortness of breath, headaches, itching, rashes, hair loss,seizures, tremors, muscular twitching or fasciculation, abnormal gait,stiffness, subnormal temperature, sensitivities to common chemicals,sleeping disorders, facial pallor, bladder and bowel problems, difficultywalking, pain, tachycardia, stroke-like episodes, food intolerances andalcohol intolerance, and partial or complete paralysis.
Symptoms/problems which occur in M.E. include: impaired vision,nystagmus, afferent pupillary defect, loss of balance and muscle coordination, cogwheel movement of the legs, slurred speech, difficulty speaking (scanning speech and slow hesitant speech), difficulty writing, difficulty swallowing, proprioceptive dysfunction, abnormal sensations(numbness, pins and needles), shortness of breath, headaches, itching, rashes, hair loss, seizures, tremors, muscular twitching or fasciculation,abnormal gait, stiffness, subnormal temperature, sensitivities to commonchemicals, sleeping disorders, facial pallor, bladder and bowel problems,difficulty walking, pain, tachycardia, stroke-like episodes, food intolerances and alcohol intolerance, and partial or complete paralysis.
MS can cause orthostatic intolerance (dizziness or faintness on standing). M.E. commonly causes severe orthostatic intolerance (which oftenworsens to become severe POTS and/or NMH). Short-term memory loss, word finding difficulty, difficulty with concentration and reasoning and other forms of cognitive impairment occur in50% of MS patients. 10% of MS patients have cognitive impairments severeenough to significantly affect daily life. Short-term memory loss, word finding difficulty, difficulty with concentration and reasoning and other forms of cognitive impairment occur in100% of M.E. patients. Almost all M.E. patients have cognitive impairments severe enough to significantly affect daily life. MS patients often become severely more ill in even mildly warm weather. Cold weather can also cause significant problems.
M.E. patients often become severely more ill in even mildly warmweather. Cold weather can also cause significant problems. MS can affect autonomic nervous system function (including involuntaryfunctions such as digestion and heart rhythms). M.E. can affect autonomic nervous system function (including involuntary functions such as digestion and heart rhythms).
MS is thought to cause a breakdown of the blood brain barrier. M.E. is thought to cause a breakdown of the blood brain barrier. A positive Babinski's reflex is consistent with several neurological conditions, including MS. (Babinski's reflex or extensor plantar reflex is atest for dysfunction of the corticospinal tract.)
A positive Babinski's reflex (or extensor plantar reflex) isconsistent with M.E.
The Romberg test will often be abnormal in MS. (This test measuresneurological or inner ear dysfunction.) The Romberg test will be abnormal in 95% or more of M.E.patients.
An abnormal neurological exam is usual in MS. Abnormalities are alsocommonly seen in neuropsychological testing in MS. An abnormal neurological exam is usual in M.E. Abnormalities arealso commonly seen in neuropsychological testing in M.E.
MS causes a certain type of brain lesion detectable in MRI brain scans. Abnormalities are also seen in EEG and QEEG brain maps and SPECT brain scansin MS. M.E. causes a certain type of brain lesion detectable in MRI brain scans. Abnormalities are also seen in EEG and QEEG brain maps and SPECT brain scans in M.E.
Hypothyroidism is found in many MS patients. Hypothyroidism is found in almost all M.E. patients.
The glucose tolerance test is often abnormal in MS. The glucose tolerance test is often abnormal in M.E.
Low blood pressure readings (usually low-normal) are common in MS. Low blood pressure readings are extremely common in M.E. Severely low blood pressure readings as low as, or lower than, 84/48 (or75/35 according to many anecdotal accounts) are common in severe M.E. orthose having severe relapses. This can occur at rest or as a result oforthostatic or physical overexertion. At times BP readings can be so low that they cannot be measured by the machine and error messages appear. Circulating blood volume measurements of only 50% to 75% of expected arealso commonly seen in M.E.
Patients with MS have an increased risk of dying from heart disease orvascular diseases. Deaths from cardiac problems are one of the most common causesof death in M.E.
Although MS is primarily neurological, it also has aspects of autoimmune disease. Although M.E. is primarily neurological, it also has aspects of autoimmune disease.
MS usually affects people between the ages of 20 and 40 years, and the average age of onset is approximately 34 years. Onset occurs between theages of 20 to 40 years in 70% of patients. The average ages affected by M.E. are similar to those seen in MS. However, the average age of onset may be significantly younger in M.E.
MS was once thought to be rare in children, but we know that around 5% of MSsufferers are under 18. Around 10% of M.E. sufferers are under 18. MS affects more than a million adults and children worldwide.
M.E. affects more than a million adults and children worldwide.(M.E. is at least as common as MS, and may be up to twice or three-times as common.)
Permission to re-post by the author, Jodi Bassett
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