What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition – it happens when your immune system is attacked by mistake. The nerves in your brain and spinal cord are damaged, causing sclerosis (or scarring). This scarring can occur in multiple places.
Since MS can affect any part of the body, no two people experience exactly the same symptoms. Bowel symptoms are common and may be experienced by up to 7 out of 10 people with MS. This is known as neurogenic bowel dysfunction and symptoms may include constipation and /or faecal incontinence (leakage).
How common is MS?
Estimations suggest there are over 130,000 people with MS in the UK, and each year 7000 people are newly diagnosed.
Types of MS
There are three types of MS. The most common type is relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and affects approximately 85% of those with MS. The other types are primary progressive or secondary progressive.
