 |
|
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By JANIE SLAVEN Record Staff Writer KNOXVILLE� It�s hard to imagine how frightening it would be know that something is wrong but not know what it is. Davina Ball was a 20-year-old Berea College student when she began to suffer weakness and loss of sensation in her limbs in 1996. A pre-med student, Ball wasted no time seeking medical help. But a diagnosis was not immediately forthcoming. After four months of tests that included a lumbar puncture, MRIs and neurological exams which essentially ruled out other possibilities, doctors told the Pine Knot native that she had Multiple Sclerosis. �Those were a hard four months, especially trying to get through school,� Davina remembers. �I really had mixed emotions when I was diagnosed. I was relieved that I knew what I had but sad that it was something I�d be plagued with for the rest of my life.� Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is believed to be an autoimmune disease that disrupts the central nervous system by breaking down myelin, the fatty tissue which insulates nerve fibers. MS is not considered to be a terminal disease, for which Davina was thankful. Her treatment includes an injection every other day and medication to combat fatigue and muscle spasms. But treatment can get tricky. After eight years of using one medication, it stopped working for Davina and she has spent the last eight months trying out new prescriptions. �Finding a medicine that�s right for me is difficult,� she says. �There�s not a lot to choose from.� There are four basic variations of MS: � Relapsing-Remitting: Most common form of MS. People with this type of MS experience clearly defined flare-ups (episodes of acute worsening of neurologic function) which are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions). � Primary-Progressive: Relatively rare. People with this type of MS experience a slow but nearly continuous worsening of their disease from the onset. However, there are variations in rates of progression over time, occasional plateaus, and temporary minor improvements. � Secondary-Progressive: Fairly common. People with this type of MS experience an initial period of relapsing-remitting disease, followed by a steadily worsening disease course with or without occasional flare-ups, minor remissions, or plateaus. About 50 percent of people with relapsing-remitting MS developed this form of the disease within 10 years of their initial diagnosis, before introduction of the �disease-modifying� drugs. � Progressive-Relapsing: Relatively rare. People with this type of MS experience a steadily worsening disease from the onset but also have clear acute relapses with or without recovery. In contrast to relapsing-remitting MS, the periods between relapses are characterized by continuing disease progression. Davina continued in college and today works as physician�s assistant with an Oak Ridge dermatology office. While she doesn�t treat anyone with MS, she says her condition allows her to be more empathetic with her patients. �I just want people to know that there are so many people who have MS, especially in this area,� Davina says. �A lot of people won�t know who has it until they�re told. This disease does wax and wane. Some days you�ll feel just great, then others it�s hard to go to the store.� While little is known about what causes MS, researchers are dedicated to finding a cure. Locally, Davina�s family and friends have spearheaded an annual walkathon fundraiser. This year�s event is scheduled for April 30 at the McCreary Central High School track beginning at 11 a.m. In case of bad weather, the walkathon will move indoors. For more information about MS, visit: www.mswatch.com Add a Comment |
|
|
@ 2005 McCreary County Record. For more information, see our online Privacy Policy. |