What are the different types of MS?
There are several types of MS. Classifying MS is done primarily for research purposes to assure that patients entering research studies have similar forms of MS and for determining medicine to be prescribed. Prognosis differs between these forms of MS. However, prognosis for each form of MS is not very useful in predicting what the future holds for an individual patient with the disease. Rather, the speed at which disability develops, the symptoms that occur and the number of attacks are much more useful in predicting future disability. Relapsing/remitting MS is the most common form. In these patients, attacks occur. During attacks, symptoms develop over a few hours or days. Symptoms may then remain stable or may improve until the next attack occurs. In other words, patients decline because of a series of attacks. Despite the name, symptoms do not need to remit fully in this form of MS. Primary progressive MS does not have attacks. Instead, patients slowly worsen. There may be periods
