If you’re having problems with muscle strength, balance, vision or unusual sensations, a diagnosis of MS (multiple sclerosis) may help explain why. MS affects your central nervous system. This can cause issues with many of your body’s functions.
Finding out you have MS is the first step in helping you gain more control. With a combination of treatments and therapies, it’s possible to slow MS progression so you can do more of what you enjoy. And as a HealthPartners member, you also have access to specialized help that can provide support, coordinate your care and connect you with additional resources along the way.
MS basics
Your body’s systems use nerve cells to communicate with each other. These nerve cells have a protective coating called myelin. This coating helps carry movement and sensation signals from one nerve to another.
MS occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks areas in your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord). These areas become inflamed and damage your nerve cells’ myelin. Patches, also called lesions, develop. As a result, your brain can’t communicate as well with various areas of your body. Problems with muscle strength, vision, balance, feeling and more can then start to appear.
Scientists are still working to understand the causes of MS. But there are treatments that can help slow its effects and address your symptoms.
Get customized resources, guidance and support from a nurse experienced with MS – confidentially and at no extra cost. We’ll work with you and your care team to coordinate your treatments and therapies, creating a plan to help you maintain an active lifestyle.
Additional information and resources
Find out more about MS – including the science behind how it happens, how symptoms develop and what treatments are available: