What does this mean?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable disease of the central nervous system. Nerve fibres are normally covered by a myelin sheath, which protects and insulates them. In MS this sheath degenerates which interrupts the smooth transmission of nerve impulses around the body, leading to loss of power and/or lack of co-ordination and/or sensory impairment usually affecting different parts of the body. The symptoms and signs can come and go over the years or can progressively worsen.
Investigations such as an MRI scan of the brain and/or spinal cord and examination of the cerebrospinal fluid can be helpful in supporting the diagnosis, but do not in themselves make a definite diagnosis.