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MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Awareness Week 20-26 April 2021

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Categories: Medical negligence, News
Date published: 20/04/2021

This month we mark MS Awareness week. According to the MS Society  more than 130,000 people in the UK are living with this condition and about 7,000 people are diagnosed with MS each year. There is no cure as yet for this condition but it can be managed if diagnosed and those with MS can live a good quality of life it they are better supported.

Why do we need to talk about MS?

This awareness week gives us all the opportunity to do our bit to help raise awareness of this condition knowns as MS Multiple sclerosis. This can be a debilitating condition and often patients and their families suffer in silence. There is help and support out there but if we are more aware we can help others seek the much needed help they require.

What is MS?

This is a neurological condition which affects the nerves when the immune system is compromised. The role of the immune system is to protect against infection however, with MS the immune system attacks the nerves in the brain or spinal cord. What this means is that a person can potentially find difficulty walking and moving their body.

The types of MS

There are three types of MS.

  • Relapsing MS- this is the most common type of MS where symptoms come and go.
  • Secondary Progressive MS- this affects few patients where the symptoms continue and the disability gradually gets worse regardless of the relapse.
  • Primary Progressive MS- Here there are no sudden attacks and symptoms get worse but to begin with the symptoms may appear to be subtle.

MS sadly, is a life- long condition but with progress in medicine this is much better managed compared to 20 years ago.  Any form of long term pain can also result in not just physical challenges but also emotional. Charites such as those mentioned below help support patients and their families.  

How is MS diagnosed?

The diagnosis is done by a neurologist. Investigation is done by way of blood tests and MRI scans. In the first instance if someone is worried they must speak to their G.P. who is the best first point of contact.

The impact of Covid-19 on MS care

Patients once diagnosed will be supported by their MS team which includes highly skilled nurses and doctors. Inevitably due to the pandemic MS services have been affected with long waiting time for care and treatment. However this should not put people off from seeking help. The Coronavirus Act for social services for MS meant that at the height of the pandemic local authorities were able to go into ‘the emergency period’. The impact of this meant that at the height of the pandemic the care was light touch but local authorities were still obliged to meet all eligible for support and hopefully, patients will now find that they are not having to wait too long for a local authority assessment if support is needed for social care services.

What are they symptoms?

Symptoms can vary and often can be difficult to pin point but broadly this may include-

  • Numbness and tingling feeling similar to pins and needles
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Eye problems
  • Physical pain

What should you do if you are worried about yourself or a loved one?

Speak to your G.P. in the first instant. Even though some services may be affected by the pandemic doctors are able to see patients through video and doctors are supporting their patients.

How can we all help?

The good news is that over the years there are has much innovation in terms of the treatment and care available to patients with MS but it is important people are diagnosed so they are supported by an MS team. Though there is no cure with new drugs and therapies patients can live with this condition if they have access to the right kind of support and medical treatment. As medical negligence lawyers we are acutely aware of the consequences to some of our clients where there is a late diagnosis of any condition.

Let us all spread the word, educate  and raise awareness of MS. You can help raise funds for research and development or volunteer with charities such as the MS Trust or the MS society. 

Helpful information and support

There is a huge amount of helpful information courtesy of https://mstrust.org.uk/get-involved/ms-awareness-week and https://www.mssociety.org.uk/care-and-support. There are even helplines to support those who may need help and advice. We are supporting the MS Society in the good work they do and if you wish to support them use their #LetsTalkMS and let’s do our bit as together we can always make a positive difference.

Contact

The writer is a Clinical Negligence Solicitor and Partner at IMD Solicitors LLP.  For further information please see https://imd.co.uk/team/daxa-patel/. If you need to speak to our Clinical negligence team please contact us here or you can drop us an email to speak to us for a no obligation consultation by email at clinicalnegligence@imd.co.uk. You can also call us on 0330 107 0107.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.

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