The young person's guide to MS What will happen with MS?
How far will it deteriorate and how fast?
How badly can MS affect you?
Will it just get worse and worse?
Does everybody who gets MS end up in a wheelchair eventually?
There are different types of MS. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide what type of MS a person has, particularly when it is first diagnosed, and also how it might change over time.
Relapsing remitting MS
Most people with MS are diagnosed with the relapsing remitting type. They have times when the symptoms flare up - known as a relapse, followed by periods of good or complete recovery - known as a remission.
It is impossible to know when, or how often, a person will have a relapse. However, on average, people with relapsing remitting MS have one or two attacks a year. Some people will have more than this and others will go for years without having an attack - so it is not possible to tell how long a person might be in remission. The length of time a relapse lasts differs as well. It might only be for a few days, or it could last for weeks or even months. We also have no way of knowing how bad the symptoms might be during a relapse.
Benign MS
Sometimes people can be described as having 'benign' MS. This term may be used if a person has had very mild attacks separated by very long periods with no symptoms. Benign MS can only be diagnosed if a person has had very few symptoms for at least 10 - 15 years.
You can't cause a relapse or stop one from happening.
Progressive MS
With this type of MS, symptoms gradually get worse - or progress - over a period of time. For some people the worsening is very, very gradual with symptoms staying the same for many months or years, whilst for others it can occur more rapidly. Again, it is impossible to tell how quickly this might happen.
Secondary progressive MS
Many people who are at first diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS find over the years that their attacks become less frequent or stop completely, but that their symptoms gradually worsen and the MS becomes progressive. This is known as secondary progressive MS, because it has happened after having relapsing remitting MS.
Primary progressive MS
Some people never have relapses and have a progressive form of MS right from diagnosis. This is known as primary progressive MS.
Only a small number of people with MS will need to use a wheelchair on a regular basis.
"MS comes in lots of different forms, so it doesn't mean that your parent will end up in a wheelchair like my mum has."
Ewan, 13
"Dad has had it for my whole life but it does get worse the longer he has it. Some family members don't understand that MS makes him what he is. At the moment nothing will make him get better so I am just going to have to watch him get worse."
Peter, 14
"I worry that if my mum has a relapse at any time, will I be able to cope with the situation and what will I do? When will the next relapse happen?"
Ian, 13
"We have adapted to allowing for dad's MS, but it keeps changing."
Gemma, 12