Multiple Sclerosis by its very nature effects everyone different.
As an example generally the younger the person is the less likely they are to suffer with prolonged symptoms and generally make a quicker recovery when symptoms first appear.
Another fact is that generally people with MS will progress through each stage of ms however some people may never progress through them all and may 'stop' during the first or second stage of multiple sclerosis.
The first stage is called benign.
This first stage of multiple sclerosis occurs in approximately 20% of people.
It consists of only two symptoms but which none of them have long lasting effects or disability.
For some people they may never receive any symptoms and thus they may never get diagnosed with MS unless it progresses into the next stage.
However even though the symptoms can be the same as full blown early MS, there is usually a full recovery with no further problems.
The second stage is also very common and is called the relaxing/remitting stage.
A person may live within this relaxing/remitting stage for many years and in some cases it may even stay in this stage for the rest of their life although un-common.
It is the stage with occasional symptoms and attacks more commonly referred to as relapses or exacerbation's.
The symptoms are typically optic neuritis, speech problems or muscle spasticity.
The third stage of multiple sclerosis can be split up into two categories.
These categories are primary progressive and secondary progressive.
The first category being primary progressive is slow but steady stream of symptoms such as loss of motor functions and difficulty walking which ultimately can lead to disability.
However in secondary progressive the progression of MS is somewhat quicker and has less time between the relapses and the recovery.
The result of this being more permanent disability because of the continued attacks from the lesions.
The last stage of multiple sclerosis is the progressive/relapsing.
In this last stage of MS it is very similar to primary progressive however it is far more damaging.
The amount of disability is increased because of the exacerbation's which cause more permanent damage that cannot be repaired.
The functions that are lost due to this stage of MS are never recovered and because of the result of these losses the mortality rate as a consequence of the loses is high.
Being diagnosed as early as possible with multiple sclerosis is the best possible tactic to help you to have a good quality of life and stop or at least slow down the progression through the stages.