brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Later symptoms of multiple sclerosis
As multiple sclerosis progresses, movements may become shaky, irregular, and ineffective. People may become partially or completely paralyzed. Weak muscles may contract involuntarily (called spasticity), sometimes causing painful cramps. Muscle weakness and spasticity may interfere with walking, eventually making it impossible, even with a walker or another assistive device. Some people are confined to a wheelchair. People who cannot walk may develop (decreased bone density). Speech may become slow, slurred, and hesitant. People with multiple sclerosis may become unable to control emotional responses and may laugh or cry inappropriately. Depression is common, and thinking may be mildly impaired. Multiple sclerosis often affects the nerves that control urination or bowel movements. As a result, most people with multiple sclerosis have Urinary Incontinence in Adults , such as the following: Frequent and strong urges to urinate Involuntary passage of urine (urinary incontinence) Difficulty starting to urinate Inability to empty their bladder completely ( Urinary Retention ) Retained urine can be a breeding ground for bacteria, making urinary tract infections more likely to develop. People may also be Constipation in Adults or, occasionally, pass stool involuntarily ( Rarely, late in the disorder, Dementia develops. If relapses become more frequent, people become increasingly disabled, sometimes permanently. 