Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can progress from a mild difficulty with walking and sight to a debilitating or even fatal disease. Demyelination of nerves and lesions on the brain cause a "short circuiting" of electrical impulses to various parts of the body. The four main types of MS (relapsing-remitting, primary-progressive, secondary-progressive and progressive-relapsing) are even harder to differentiate than the original diagnosis of MS, usually made by eliminating other possibilities. This autoimmune disease tends to strike women more often than men and worsen at different rates in each individual.
Numbness to Paralysis
The progression of MS manifests differently for each person, but gradual or sudden worsening from mild to more severe symptoms may show a worsening. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society website states the progress is unpredictable from one patient to another, but a change from numbness to paralysis is the type of change that indicates advancement of the disease. If muscle use returns periodically, or if the worsening only comes when overheated or overtired, it may be a temporary relapse. Continued loss of functions in seeing or eye-hand coordination indicate an actual worsening of the MS.
Cane to Wheelchair
While an MS sufferer may return to normal functioning, sometimes for several years, a second relapse with continued lessening of brain-to-muscle nerve impulses may indicate your MS is getting worse. Mayo Clinic staff say that continued demyelination of nerves may lead to irreversible nerve damage. At this point, the person who was able to walk with a cane, then became wheelchair-bound may not be able to walk again, even with aids.
Loss of Self-Caring Ability
If you go from independence to dependence on others for daily tasks like bathing, dressing, eating and movement your MS is likely worsening. The National Institutes of Health website states how your MS is progressing depends on how often relapses occur (the fewer the better). How severe your relapses impact your movement and functioning shows whether your MS is worsening as well as which part of your central nervous system is under attack. Since MS is a chronic disease with no known cure, some progression will develop with any person.
Attack Frequency, Alternate Body System Failures
The likelihood of a rapid worsening of your MS depends on several factors like gender and age of onset. The National Institutes of Health website states men and those who had their first MS attack after the age of 30 are more likely to worsen quickly. If you have rare but regular relapsing-remitting patterns, your MS may be very slow in worsening. If you develop new and different symptoms, such as going from walking and seeing difficulties to swallowing and breathing problems, your MS is likely getting worse.
