Multiple sclerosis case study presentation

Carla is a 30 year-old-female college professor who was diagnosed with relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis. She presents with complaints of diploma, ataxia, fatigue, muscle spasms, and muscle weakness. The patient Is married and has 2 children, ages 6, and 8 years old.

Lectures: Clinical Presentation. It is important to note that patients with MS have subjective complaints and objective signs that frequently are not attributable to one specific lesion in the CNS. It is usually possible to distinguish at least two or more separate foci of involvement based on the clinical assessment of the patient.

The patient discussed throughout the case study presents with chronic fatigue, lower extremity weakness, impaired balance, lack of coordination and psychosocial characteristics. In turn, these symptoms combined have led to the patient experiencing an overall decreased quality of life.

Motor weakness often is accompanied by upper motor neuron signs, such as mild spasticity, hyperreflexia, and pathologic signs. The most common initial presentation is paraparesis, but weakness can be also found in just one extremity (monoparesis) or all four extremities (quadriparesis).