Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system—the brain and spinal cord. It also affects the nerves to the eyes. It can cause problems with muscle strength, vision, balance, mood, sensation, and thinking.
Your nerve cells have a protective covering called myelin. Without myelin, the brain and spinal cord can't communicate with the nerves in the rest of the body. MS causes areas in the brain and spinal cord to get inflamed. It slowly damages the myelin and nerves in patches. These patches of damage are called lesions.
MS tends to get worse over time. But usually this happens slowly. It's hard to predict how MS will affect you. MS is different for each person. Some people's lives won't change much with MS. Those people may function well for a long time. But others may lose the ability to walk or do everyday tasks as the disease gets worse.
There is no cure for MS. But medicines and other treatments might help slow its progression and treat your symptoms.
Our Approach
The Multiple Sclerosis Center has highly skilled specialists with the experience to handle the most complex multiple sclerosis cases. Our team of physicians come from a variety of disciplines, working together to manage all your symptoms with the goal of providing a better quality of life. Our Multiple Sclerosis Center is accredited as a Center for Excellence by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We are also actively involved in research to increase the understanding of the underlying causes of multiple sclerosis, and to gain insight into the development of new treatment approaches. And, we participate in clinical trials to evaluate the next generation of MS therapeutics.
Appointment Information
Schedule an appointment by calling us at 734-936-9020.
Multiple Sclerosis Center
The Multiple Sclerosis Center at U-M Health has highly skilled specialists with the experience to handle the most complex cases.
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
The symptoms of MS vary from person to person. Which symptoms you have will depend on which parts of your brain or spinal cord are damaged. Over time, symptoms may come and go, or they may be long-lasting. Certain things like being hot or having an infection may cause symptoms to get worse for a short time. As MS progresses, symptoms may get worse.
Common symptoms
- Feeling very tired (fatigue).
- Muscle symptoms. These include weakness, stiffness, and spasms. You may be clumsy or have a tremor. These problems may make it hard to hold on to things or walk. Over time, a cane or wheelchair may be needed.
- Visual symptoms. These include blurry vision, eye pain, blindness, and double vision. Optic neuritis—a sudden loss of vision that's often painful—may be a first symptom of MS.
- Sensory symptoms. These include numbness and tingling, feelings of pins-and-needles, and coldness. They may occur in a limb or on your face or body. You may also feel a band of tightness around the trunk of your body.
- Pain. This may include headaches, nerve pain, and pain from muscle spasms.
- Bladder symptoms. These may include a need to urinate often. Or you may not be able to control or empty your bladder. You may wake up at night to urinate.
- Constipation and other bowel symptoms. You may have a hard time passing stool (constipation). Or you may lose control of your bowels.
- Sexual problems. You may be less interested in having sex. Or you may have pain during sex or have problems getting an erection.
- Cognitive problems. You may have trouble focusing. You may forget things. Or you may have trouble thinking quickly or solving problems.
- Mental health symptoms. You may feel depressed or anxious.
- Sleep problems.
- Vertigo and balance problems. You may feel dizzy or unsteady.
How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
Confirming diagnosis is so crucial, and yet we’ve seen so many patients who have been misdiagnosed. We are experts in diagnosing multiple sclerosis, as well as recognized what is not MS. We offer cutting-edge MRI imaging, which is our primary window into the brain and spine. We also run the full repertoire of lab tests to exclude other possibilities before coming to a conclusion. And, because multiple sclerosis can continue to progress with the absence of symptoms, we conduct periodic exams and MRIs.
How is multiple sclerosis treated?
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, so our goal is to hold your disease in check. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution and there are many potential treatments available. It takes experience to not only be familiar with all the therapies – along with the benefits, risks and side effects of each – but to also understand which treatment is best for each patient. We also educate you so you know what to expect and how to best take care of yourself.
Treatment ranges from oral medication and self-injecting therapy to chemotherapy treatments and infusions. Since many MS medications are only available at an infusion center, we spearheaded the development of our new onsite, 10-bed East Ann Arbor Infusion Center. Specially trained nurses, who administer steroids, other medications and chemotherapies, staff the Center.
Locations
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Neurology Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
Floor 1 Reception C
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5322Get Directions
Doctors
Tiffany Joy Braley, MD
Associate Professor
Neurology
Preeta Gupta, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Neurology
Andrew Robert Romeo, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Neurology
Katherine Elizabeth Selwa, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Neurology
Lisa Movilla Stropp, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Neurology
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