Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the Central Nervous System (Matsuda, 2011). MS leads to inflammation of the myelin sheaths surrounding the nerves, causes scarring of these sheaths, and leads to permanent damage. MS affects the nerve signal being sent to the body, as well as being received. MS is the most common disabling neurological disease in young adults as it typically first shows signs between the ages of 20 and 40, and is more common in women (D’Arcy, 2012, an overview). Multiple Sclerosis affects movement, and can lead to lifelong disability.
This is Debbie, she has had MS for 20 years. Debbie's disease has progressed through the years, and she is confined to a motorized wheelchair.
Debbie has a nice chair that can adjust height, fully extended she still cannot reach anything on the top shelf. MS can make daily and mundane things difficult or impossible.
Debbie wants to be as independent as possible, and household chores still need to be done. Debbie's home had to be modified and the washing machine and dryer were placed upstairs. Even laundry can be difficult for Debbie, and many others with MS as they lose independence.
Debbie had a ramp built on their home so that she could get in and out of the house. MS always takes a toll on family life. In this image she is watering her flowers, and her husband is the man on the left.
Transportation is an issue for people with MS. Shawn rides a special public bus to get where he needs to go.
Moving
independently from one place to another becomes more difficult due to
the reduced balance and coordination. Over time those with MS often
become wheelchair dependent. Melody also has MS, and she goes to
physical therapy once or twice a week to help her try to maintain as
much independence and control over her body.
Braces may have to be worn to help with gait problems.
Janalee gets her leg stretched and uses her phone to distract her from the therapy.
Stretching is done to maintain as much movement as possible in the joint.
Muscle spasms are a huge part of MS. In this image a Muscle Spasm is beginning.
Mac lifts weights to keep his strength. Many with MS suffer from depression, but Mac tries to keep a smile on his face and face his disability with optimism.
Shawn uses the parallel bars to walk, usually Shawn is in a motorized wheelchair.
Parallel Bars
Lisa stands at the parallel bars with the help of an aide.
Muscle spasms have caused Debbie's feet to deform. They are swollen, and have numbness and tingling constantly.
Skeleton at physical therapy.
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