Multiple Sclerosis is a nervous disorder caused by the damage to the outer sheath of a nerve called myelin. One of its symptoms is Focal demyelination and Periventricular demyelination. When myelin is damaged, it cannot transmit messages from the brain to the nerve. One of the first organs to be affected is the eye. The patient starts getting double vision and experiences excruciating pain while moving the eye balls. Other symptoms include dizzy spells, numb arms and torso, fatigue, impaired balance, trouble in walking and a change in bowel, bladder and sexual function.
What is Focal demyelination and Periventricular demyelination?
Multiple Sclerosis causes the outer covering of nerves called myelin to wear out or get damaged. This obstructs the signals from the brain from reaching the nerves. Often, the first symptoms are the problems with the eyes. A person afflicted with this may experience blurred or double vision. This is accompanied by acute pain while moving the eyes. If the eyes are affected then white matter abnormalities or lesions can be found in the eyes. The entire gamut of these symptoms relating to the eyes is classified under Focal demyelination. An exacerbation of this can cause the brain to be affected. This condition is known as Periventricular demyelination. Though primarily seen in adults, it can also be found in children. It primarily affects women between 20-50 years of age and is also referred to as optic neuritis.
Treatment for Focal demyelination and Periventricular demyelination
Corticosteroids can be used as a medication for Focal demyelination. This has a short term effect on the demyelination, while its effect on long term multiple sclerosis is still under research. Treatment is usually for managing the acute relapse and its prevention as the disease progresses. While it is nearly impossible to reverse the effects, it can certainly be beneficial to educate oneself to adapt to the situation in order to avoid frustration and depression.
Physical therapy is highly advisable for patients suffering from Periventricular demyelination. It is highly recommended to start the treatment right away to prevent a recurrence or further damage to the nerves. Alternate treatments are also available, but these do not have medical backing. They are primarily focused on a holistic approach and mainly address the symptoms. None of the available treatments can reverse the damage already done, but can prevent further recurrence and aid in giving relief from the symptoms.
