Multiple Sclerosis ataxia is a condition which causes a lack of coordination in the muscles and limbs it affects. Patients who are affected by MS ataxia experience problems with the function of their sensory or motor nerves. Problems are also found with the procedure by which the information from the brain is processed by the central nervous system. Multiple Sclerosis ataxia is usually associated with leg muscles, which manifests itself as an unusual and awkward way of walking, but it can also affect limbs in the upper body, vision and speech. There are three different types of MS ataxia, which affect the patient in different ways and can also require different kinds of treatment. The three different types are cerebellar ataxia, vestibular ataxia and sensory ataxia
The three different kinds of MS ataxia
The first kind of MS ataxia is called cerebellar ataxia and can affect the whole body. The problems in this kind of Multiple Sclerosis ataxia are caused by lesions on the cerebellum in the brain and can cause symptoms such as an uneven walking gait, jerky eye movements and problems controlling the muscles that are needed when speaking. Vestibular ataxia is another form of Multiple Sclerosis ataxia that is caused by lesions on the brainstem and can spread to the organs in the ear that control balance. Consequently, sufferers of this type of MS ataxia often have problems with their balance and often feel nauseous. Finally, sensory ataxia is caused by problems with the proprioceptive or positional sensing nerves, meaning that patients have no sense of where their limbs are in relation to their body. This form of Multiple Sclerosis ataxia causes patients to be unsteady on their feet.
Treating Multiple Sclerosis ataxia
There are several different medications that can relieve the symptoms of the different types of MS ataxia, though there are unfortunately no drugs, as yet, that can cure the condition itself. There are specific drugs that work on the different types of Multiple Sclerosis ataxia; for example, someone with mobility symptoms would probably take a different drug compared to someone with speech problems. If the patient if suffering from mobility problems caused by MS ataxia, then physical therapy can also help. Physical therapy will help them learn to compensate for their unsteadiness or their awkward gait, making sure that they don’t cause themselves or their limbs any further damage. Occupational therapy can also be useful to help sufferers with Multiple Sclerosis ataxia to carry out everyday tasks that have become difficult because of their symptoms.
