A Look at Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neuron Disease

Movement is an integral part of the human experience. Eating, talking, walking, laughing — we use our muscles thousands of times each day. So when we face a condition that makes it difficult, or even impossible, to move, it can take a great toll on us physically, mentally, and emotionally. Two such conditions are Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Though these illnesses seem similar, there are some nuanced differences between the two. So let’s take a look at how they compare and explore some of the best treatments for Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neuron Disease.

What are Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neuron Disease?

MS is an autoimmune disorder that targets the brain and spinal cord and is caused by the degradation of the myelin sheaths that protect neurons. This causes a breakdown in communication between the brain and the body. MND is much rarer than MS. Unlike MS, it is a term that describes a group of illnesses rather than referring to a single condition, but the most well known is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). MND is also caused by damage to brain cells, but it refers to the degradation of motor neurons — affecting the way you walk, talk, and even breathe.

Let’s look at them side by side: 

	Multiple Sclerosis	Motor Neuron Disease
Causes	Autoimmune condition — underlying cause unknown Tied to the degradation of myelin sheaths around neurons	Underlying cause unknown Most cases are spontaneous but there seems to be a genetic link
Symptoms	Numbness or weakness in limb(s) ‘Electric-shock’ sensations that occur with certain neck movements Tremors, lack of coordination, unsteady gait Vision problems — partial or complete loss, double vision, blurry vision, etc Slurred speech Fatigue Dizziness Tingling or pain in parts of your body Problems with sexual, bowel, and bladder functions	Difficulty walking or doing daily activities Tripping, stumbling, falling due to weakness in legs Clumsiness Slurred speech Difficulty swallowing Muscle cramps or twitching (in the arms, shoulders, or tongue in the case of ALS)
Treatment	Medication to control the symptoms Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech and Language Therapy Stem Cell Therapy	·  Medication to control the symptoms ·  Physical Therapy ·  Occupational Therapy ·  Speech and Language Therapy ·  Stem Cell Therapy

When you put them side by side, you notice the similarities across all categories. The treatment plan for the two conditions may be similar, even if the specifics of the treatment vary from case to case. For example, though medication can be prescribed to control the symptoms, the type of medication differs between the illnesses. Even the frequency and focus of the different therapies will change based on the condition and its severity. That said, research shows that a combination of medication and therapy seems to be the best treatment for Motor Neuron Disease as well as Multiple Sclerosis.

Stem Cell Therapy for MS and MDN

One of the biggest similarities between the two conditions is how well they respond to Stem Cell Therapy. Stem cells are cells that have no fixed role, they can adapt to whatever the body needs them to be. Stem Cell Therapy involves extracting adult autologous stem cells from the patient’s bone marrow, processing them, and reintroducing them to the area they’re needed. In the case of both MS and MND, this would be the brain. These cells can replace the damaged neurons in the brain and detoxify the areas around them, slowly rebuilding the neural pathways. The ease and positive outcome of Stem Cell Therapy make it one of the best treatments for Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neuron Disease.

If you or a loved one suffer from either of these conditions, it’s important to remember that there’s still hope. With the right treatment plan, you can mitigate many of the symptoms and still live a full and rich life. Start your journey towards better living by looking for the best treatments for Motor Neuron Disease and Multiple Sclerosis today!