If you’ve recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis—or MS, as most people call it—you’re probably trying to make sense of what this means for you. Perhaps you’re experiencing symptoms and want to understand what might be happening in your body. Or maybe you’re supporting someone with MS and want to learn more.
You’re not alone. According to a 2024 study published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, there are now more than 33,000 Australians living with MS, with numbers increasing particularly in regional areas. In fact, Australia has one of the highest rates of MS in the world.
This guide will walk you through what MS is, how it affects your nervous system, the different types you might hear about, and why MS looks different for every person. Understanding these basics can help you feel more in control and better equipped to work with your healthcare team.
Key Takeaways
What Multiple Sclerosis Is
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition where your immune system—which normally protects you from infections and illness—mistakenly attacks your own nervous system. Specifically, it targets something called myelin, which is the protective coating around nerve fibres in your brain and spinal cord.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2024), this myelin sheath works like the insulation around electrical wires. When it’s damaged, the signals travelling between your brain and body can slow down, get distorted, or stop altogether. That’s what causes MS symptoms.
The word “sclerosis” means scarring. When your immune system attacks the myelin, it leaves patches of scar tissue (called lesions or plaques) in your brain and spinal cord. These scars can be as small as a pinhead or as large as a golf ball. The name refers to these distinctive areas of scar-like tissue that result from the immune system’s attack on myelin.
Why It Matters
MS is the most common neurological cause of disability in young adults. The World Health Organization (2023) reports that MS affects more than 1.8 million people worldwide, with Australia having particularly high rates.
In Tasmania—Australia’s southernmost state—the prevalence is especially high, with an estimated 136.1 people living with MS per 100,000 Australians in 2021. This represents a significant increase from previous years and means MS touches many Australian families and communities.
Understanding MS matters because early diagnosis and treatment can make a real difference to your long-term wellbeing. As one Australian neurologist explained in a 2024 UNSW Sydney report, “If you catch the disease early, and you start a good medication, people can do very well for the rest of their life”.
How MS Affects Your Nervous System
Your central nervous system—your brain and spinal cord—is like your body’s control centre. It sends and receives messages through nerve fibres that control everything from your movements to your vision, balance, and thinking.
According to StatPearls’ 2024 medical reference, MS is characterised by inflammation, demyelination, gliosis, and neuronal loss in the central nervous system. Here’s what that means in everyday language:
The myelin attack: In MS, your immune system mistakes myelin for a threat. It sends inflammatory cells to attack the myelin coating, causing inflammation and damage. This process is called demyelination.
The communication breakdown: Once the myelin is damaged, nerve signals can’t travel properly. Imagine trying to make a phone call with a damaged cable—the message might not get through, or it might come through garbled.
The scar tissue: After each attack, your body tries to repair the damage, but it leaves behind scar tissue. These scars are what neurologists see on MRI scans.
Where the damage occurs matters: A 2024 study found that the scarring caused by MS is as distinct as a fingerprint, varying from one person to another, meaning the unique pattern of lesions influences the diversity of symptoms each individual may encounter.
If the damage is in your optic nerve, you might have vision problems. If it’s in your spinal cord, you might experience numbness, weakness, or bladder issues. If it’s in your brain, you might have trouble with balance, coordination, memory, or concentration.
The Main Types of Multiple Sclerosis
MS isn’t a single, straightforward condition. It follows different patterns in different people. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia (2024), there are several recognised types:
Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)
This is by far the most common type. An estimated 85% of people diagnosed with MS have this type initially. With RRMS, you experience periods when new symptoms appear or existing ones worsen (called relapses, attacks, or flare-ups), followed by periods when symptoms improve or disappear (called remission).
Relapses typically come on over a few days, last for days to weeks, and then gradually improve. The NHS (2024) notes that symptoms may come and go, and may get worse over time. You might have weeks, months, or even years between relapses.
Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS)
Many people with RRMS eventually transition to SPMS. According to a 2024 study in MS-UK, approximately 66 per cent of people with RRMS eventually develop SPMS, though this process can take decades.
With SPMS, your symptoms gradually worsen over time rather than coming in distinct attacks. You may still have occasional relapses, but there’s an underlying progression of disability even between attacks. However, modern disease-modifying treatments are helping to delay or prevent this transition.
Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)
According to the UK MS Society (2024), primary progressive MS affects about 10-15% of people diagnosed with MS. With PPMS, symptoms gradually worsen from the beginning, without the clear relapses and remissions seen in RRMS.
PPMS typically appears later in life (around age 40 or older) and affects men and women equally, unlike RRMS which affects more women. The symptoms often involve leg weakness, stiffness, and difficulty walking.
Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)
This describes the very first episode of symptoms caused by inflammation and myelin damage in the central nervous system. Not everyone with CIS develops MS, but it’s an important warning sign that needs proper assessment by a neurologist.
Why MS Symptoms Vary So Much Between People
One of the most challenging aspects of MS is its unpredictability. Two people with MS can have completely different experiences. Here’s why:
Location of lesions: Your symptoms depend entirely on where the damage occurs in your brain or spinal cord. According to Cleveland Clinic (2024), symptoms vary from person to person and may fluctuate in severity from one day to the next.
Severity of damage: Some attacks cause significant myelin loss, while others are milder. Your body’s ability to repair damage also varies, affecting how well you recover from each relapse.
Individual differences: Your age when MS starts, your genetics, your overall health, and lifestyle factors all play a role. Research has shown that factors like vitamin D levels, smoking, and body weight can influence disease progression.
Treatment effects: Modern disease-modifying therapies can dramatically alter the course of MS. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2024) confirms that a small number of people with MS will have mild symptoms with little disability, whereas others will experience worsening symptoms that will lead to increased disability over time.
Time and progression: MS changes over time. Your symptoms might be quite different 10 years after diagnosis compared to when you were first diagnosed, regardless of which type of MS you have.
Common MS Symptoms
While everyone’s experience is different, some symptoms are more common than others:
- Fatigue: Often overwhelming and not related to activity levels
- Vision problems: Including blurred vision, double vision, or temporary vision loss
- Numbness and tingling: Usually in the face, arms, legs, or torso
- Muscle weakness: Making it harder to walk or use your hands
- Balance and coordination issues: Feeling unsteady or clumsy
- Bladder and bowel problems: Including urgency and frequency
- Cognitive changes: Difficulty with memory, concentration, or finding words
- Pain: Including nerve pain, muscle spasms, and headaches
The NHS (2024) emphasises that multiple sclerosis is different for everyone, with no one able to predict how much your MS might affect you.
What Current Research Shows
Understanding MS has improved dramatically in recent years. A comprehensive 2024 review article highlighted that research confirms early signs of MS, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and headache, can appear years before overt clinical symptoms.
New diagnostic tools and biomarkers are helping doctors identify MS earlier. The 2024 McDonald criteria revision has enhanced diagnostic accuracy, allowing for earlier treatment initiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, MS itself is not usually fatal. According to the World Health Organization (2023), most people with MS have a near-normal life expectancy. However, MS can increase the risk of complications that need proper management.
Not necessarily. Treatment has improved significantly. A 2024 UNSW Sydney report quoted an Australian MS specialist saying, “If you ran an MS clinic 30 or 40 years ago, a lot of people would be in a wheelchair. I don’t have anyone in a wheelchair now” UNSW Sites.
Currently, there’s no cure for MS. However, there are more than 20 disease-modifying therapies available in Australia that can reduce relapses, slow progression, and manage symptoms effectively.
MS Australia’s 2024 research shows that MS prevalence is highest in Tasmania, the southern-most state, and lowest in Queensland and the Northern Territory. This is thought to be related to lower sunlight exposure and vitamin D levels at higher latitudes.
MS progression varies significantly. With modern treatments, many people maintain good function for decades. The focus is on early, effective treatment to prevent accumulation of disability.
Final Thoughts
Multiple sclerosis is a complex condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating around nerve fibres in your brain and spinal cord. This damage disrupts communication between your brain and body, causing a wide variety of possible symptoms.
The key points to remember are:
- MS affects more than 33,000 Australians, with rates particularly high in southern regions
- There are different types of MS, with relapsing-remitting being the most common initially
- Symptoms vary enormously between people because the location and extent of nerve damage is unique to each person
- Modern treatments can significantly reduce relapses and slow disease progression, especially when started early
- While there’s no cure yet, research continues to advance rapidly
Understanding what MS is and how it affects your body is an important first step. This knowledge empowers you to work effectively with your healthcare team, make informed decisions about treatment, and take steps to maintain your wellbeing.
Remember, MS is different for everyone, and your experience will be uniquely yours. With the right support, treatment, and self-management strategies, many people with MS continue to live full, active, and meaningful lives.
If you’re newly diagnosed or suspect you might have MS, the most important step is connecting with a neurologist who specialises in MS. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference to your long-term outcomes.
References
- Campbell, J.A., Simpson-Yap, S., Taylor, B.V., van der Mei, I., Laslett, L., Henson, G., Zhao, T., & Palmer, A.J. (2024). Significantly increasing multiple sclerosis prevalence in Australia from 2010 to 2021. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 30(9), 1113-1127. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39104180/
- Cleveland Clinic. (2023, August 29). Multiple Sclerosis (MS): What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17248-multiple-sclerosis
- Healthline. (2024, December 18). Do MS Symptoms Fluctuate During the Day and at Night? https://www.healthline.com/health/ms/symptom-fluctuations
- Houston Methodist. (2024). What Are the First Signs of Multiple Sclerosis? https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2024/mar/what-are-the-first-signs-of-multiple-sclerosis/
- MS Australia. (2024, October 28). The rising prevalence of MS across Australia’s states and territories. https://www.msaustralia.org.au/news/the-rising-prevalence-of-ms-across-australia/
- MS Society UK. (2024). Primary Progressive MS (PPMS). https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/types-of-ms/primary-progressive-ms
- MS-UK. (2024, May 30). Does relapsing remitting MS always progress to secondary progressive MS? https://ms-uk.org/blog/does-relapsing-remitting-ms-always-progress-to-secondary-progressive-ms/
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2024). Multiple Sclerosis. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/multiple-sclerosis
- NHS. (2024). Multiple sclerosis. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/
- PLOS ONE. (2024). Multiple sclerosis: 2024 update. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12238822/
- StatPearls. (2024, March 20). Multiple Sclerosis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499849/
- UNSW Sydney. (2024, May). Multiple sclerosis is on the rise in Australia, but it’s not all bad news. https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/05/Multiple-sclerosis-is-on-the-rise-in-Australia-but-its-not-all-bad-news
- World Health Organization. (2023, August 7). Multiple sclerosis. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/multiple-sclerosis
