Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves. It can affect movement, vision, and energy.
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive autoimmune disease that affects the body’s nervous system. When the immune system attacks your nerves, you may experience a wide range of symptoms, including pain, fatigue, and vision problems.
An MS diagnosis can bring on concerns and questions, and everyone’s experience will vary. At AHN, our doctors and specialists take a personalized and comprehensive approach to treating our MS patients. We work with you and your unique needs to find the right treatments and therapies that can slow the disease progression and help you live full and active lives.
AHN Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center
The AHN Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center and its team of dedicated health care professionals offer you access to the latest treatments, including promising therapies still in clinical trials. Because we understand the many challenges facing people with MS, we provide abundant resources to help you manage your symptoms and stay active over the course of your life.
Specialists with various areas of expertise work closely together to address your changing needs over time. Every professional you see understands the complexity of multiple sclerosis, including physicians who are nationally known for their longstanding contribution to multiple sclerosis research. From first evaluation to your personalized treatment plan, your care at the center focuses on symptom management and evolves with your changing needs to address your whole health.
Receiving care from the AHN Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center can provide opportunities for involvement in multi-center treatment trials of the latest MS therapies.
Why choose AHN for your multiple sclerosis (MS)
Personalized multiple sclerosis treatment is at the center of everything we do at AHN. The primary goal for most is to significantly reduce the frequency of relapses, manage symptoms, and slow the progression of the disease. We focus on helping all our patients maintain their quality of life, while providing advanced care and practical, compassionate support for day-to-day challenges.
People with multiple sclerosis choose AHN for our:
- Expertise: Our team includes nationally known neurologists with decades of experience in multiple sclerosis diagnosis and treatment. We care for 2,000 patients with MS every year — more than most programs in the United States.
- Early access to promising treatments: We offer the most effective therapies, often before they are widely available. AHN was the first hospital in western Pennsylvania to offer LEMTRADA®¹, an infusion treatment that provides symptom relief to patients who did not have success with other therapies.
- Wide-ranging support services: From coordinating services such as physical therapy to answering your questions about how MS may impact work, we support you through every challenge. Our close relationship with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society makes it easy for you to get the answers you need and the exceptional care you deserve.
- Focus on research: We collaborate with the top MS centers in the country, exploring ways we can improve the lives of people living with MS. Our extensive research offers you early access to new treatments and clinical trials that few hospitals can provide. Learn more about the Neuroscience Research Center.
Your MS care team
The team of dedicated physicians, nurses, and support specialists — all with multiple sclerosis expertise — work together to support you in your MS care. We prescribe the latest medications to manage your symptoms and coordinate rehabilitative options such as physical therapy to help you retain your abilities over your lifetime. Because you are seen by a dedicated team of specialists, they are able to communicate and coordinate your care, so you can focus on feeling better and they can focus and address preserving your overall physical, cognitive and emotional well-being. Your care team may include:
- Neurologists with expertise in movement disorders or spasticity
- Neuro-ophthalmologists, experts in eye conditions related to the nervous system
- Neuro-otologists, experts in neurological disorders that affect the ears
- Neuroradiologists, physicians skilled in diagnosing neurological conditions with advanced imaging tests
- Neurosurgeons, physicians trained to diagnosis and surgically treat neurological conditions
- Nurses
- Patient educators
- Physical therapists
- Physician assistants
Our location
AHN Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center
420 East North Avenue, Suite 500
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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Multiple sclerosis symptoms and signs
People experience multiple sclerosis (MS) differently. Symptoms may come and go or gradually worsen over time. We understand that dealing with changing or unexplained health symptoms can be concerning. If you are experiencing new or persistent health changes, it is always a good idea to discuss them with a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation. Please keep in mind that experiencing these symptoms does not automatically mean you have MS, as they can be linked to many different health conditions. Common signs of multiple sclerosis include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Numbness or tingling sensations on your face, body, arms, or legs
- Dizziness or balance problems (vertigo)
- Pain
- Muscle stiffness or weakness, possibly leading to walking difficulties
- Vision problems, such as blurred vision, eye pain, or double vision
- Bladder or bowel problems, such as urine leakage (incontinence) or constipation
- Cognitive challenges, such as memory loss
Causes and risk factors
The exact cause of MS is still unknown, but researchers believe it involves a complex mix of genetic and immune-system factors. While researchers continue to study why some people develop MS, primary risk factors include:
- A family history of the condition
- Certain viral infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus
It is important to know that MS is not directly inherited, and no single factor causes the disease. Having one or more risk factors does not mean a person will develop MS, nor does it mean anyone caused the condition.
If you or a loved one have personal questions about your health, symptoms, or risk factors, AHN care teams are available to provide guidance, support, and answers tailored to your needs.
Multiple sclerosis screening and diagnosis
At AHN, our physicians have many years of experience diagnosing the full spectrum of MS symptoms. To begin, a physician will perform a thorough neurological examination to check your reflexes, balance, coordination, and vision.
To learn more about what’s causing your symptoms and to rule out other conditions, we may recommend one or more specialized tests to determine a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. We understand that waiting for medical answers can be a stressful and uncertain time. Please know that our care team is committed to careful evaluation, providing clear explanations before any test is performed, and welcoming all your questions. We are here to guide you supportively through every step of the process about how MS is diagnosed.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
This non-invasive test produces highly detailed images of your brain and spinal cord. Physicians use an MRI to look for areas of inflammation or scarring (lesions) and to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms. If you have MS, an MRI will often show characteristic abnormal findings.
Lumbar puncture
This test, also commonly called a spinal tap, evaluates the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord for specific markers of inflammation or infection. During the procedure, a physician carefully inserts a small needle into your lower back (the lumbar area) to collect a small sample of fluid. Our team will walk you through what to expect and ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
Blood tests
While there is no single blood test that can diagnose MS, tests measuring different substances in your blood help your physician rule out other diseases or conditions that share similar symptoms, such as certain vitamin deficiencies or infections.
Types and stages of multiple sclerosis
Unlike many other medical conditions, multiple sclerosis is not categorized by numbered stages. Instead, physicians classify MS by its specific disease course—how the condition behaves and progresses over time.
The main types of MS are defined by whether a person experiences sudden flare-ups (relapses), periods of recovery (remissions), or a gradual change in symptoms. Because MS can evolve, ongoing monitoring and regular check-ins with your care team are essential. These evaluations allow your physician to adjust your treatments over time, ensuring your care plan continues to fit your life and health needs.
Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)
This refers to a first episode of neurological symptoms caused by inflammation and myelin damage in the central nervous system, lasting for at least 24 hours. While experiencing CIS means you are at a higher risk of developing MS in the future, not everyone with CIS will go on to be diagnosed with the condition.
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
This refers to a first episode of neurological symptoms caused by inflammation and myelin damage in the central nervous system, lasting for at least 24 hours. While experiencing CIS means you are at a higher risk of developing MS in the future, not everyone with CIS will go on to be diagnosed with the condition.
Secondary progressive MS (SPMS)
Over time, many individuals initially diagnosed with RRMS transition into SPMS. In this secondary phase, neurological function and disability steadily worsen over time, though individuals may still experience occasional relapses, minor remissions, or temporary plateaus.
Primary progressive MS (PPMS)
Unlike RRMS, this type is characterized by a gradual, steady worsening of neurological function right from the very beginning of the condition. People with PPMS typically do not experience distinct relapses or remissions, though there can be periods where the progression slows or stabilizes.
Multiple sclerosis treatment
While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, we use the latest medications and comprehensive rehabilitative services, such as physical therapy. Your care team will tailor a treatment plan to your symptoms and needs, adapting the treatment approach as your needs change over time.
Our goal is to find therapies that best manage your symptoms and help you live a full and active life. We focus on your unique goals and preferences and evolve your treatment so you can achieve the quality of life you’re striving for. Your AHN care team will be with you as your needs change and we can adjust your care to fit you.
Your care plan may include:
- Medication: Certain medications slow disease progression, while others help manage your symptoms. These medications may be oral, injected (shots), or infused (delivered through an IV). We participate in research efforts that pursue new multiple sclerosis treatments. We can often offer promising treatments, such as novel medications, before they are widely available.
- Physical therapy: Exercises can strengthen muscles and help you complete daily activities more easily. Our knowledgeable, caring physical therapists tailor a physical therapy plan to your needs.
- Occupational therapy: Trained occupational therapists can help you relearn how to complete daily activities that have become difficult, enhancing your independence at home or work.
- Speech therapy: Dedicated speech therapists help you address symptoms that make it difficult to talk or swallow.
- Cognitive therapy: Psychotherapy addresses cognitive challenges, such as how you think, reason, and remember.
Multiple sclerosis FAQs
Having questions about multiple sclerosis is completely natural, and finding answers is an important first step in your care journey. While online resources can help you understand the basics, every individual's experience with MS is unique. AHN specialists are here to help you navigate these questions and understand what this information means for you personally.
How is MS diagnosed?
Diagnosing MS involves a comprehensive medical evaluation. Because there is no single test for the condition, physicians use a thorough neurological exam, detailed health history, and specialized diagnostic tests—such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lumbar punctures (spinal taps), and blood tests—to look for signs of inflammation and rule out other potential causes.
Is MS hereditary?
No, MS is not directly inherited, meaning it is not passed down in a simple, direct pattern from parent to child. However, genetics do play a role; having a close family member with MS can slightly increase your overall risk of developing the condition, though most people with a family history never develop it.
What are early signs of MS in women?
While MS symptoms can affect anyone, research indicates that women are diagnosed more frequently and may often first notice symptoms such as sensory changes (numbness or tingling), optic neuritis (blurred or painful vision), extreme fatigue, and balance or coordination issues. Overall, early symptoms vary significantly from person to person regardless of gender.
What causes MS?
The exact cause of MS is still unknown. Medical experts believe it is triggered by a complex combination of genetic factors and environmental influences—such as certain viral infections or lower vitamin D levels—that cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the protective covering of nerve fibers in the central nervous system.
What should I know about multiple sclerosis life expectancy?
Thanks to significant advancements in modern Disease-Modifying Therapies (DMTs) and comprehensive care, the life expectancy for most individuals with MS is very close to that of the general population. With early diagnosis and effective management, many people live full, active, and long lives.
Contact us
To schedule an appointment or learn more about services at the AHN Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Center, call 412-359-8850 or 814-452-7575 in Erie.
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LEMTRADA® is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation.