Let's if this analogy works for explaining MS.
There has been analogies using an electrical cord but I want to go further than that. i am going to use the whole electricity grid.
The electrical company is going to be the brain. If the company has troubles producing electricity (nerve impulses) or controlling the electricity, then the bulb in your lamp is not going to function properly. The bulb might not light at all, it might flicker or it might blow. In the body, that body part might not work at all, it might partially function, or it might over react. The function affected might be sensory or motor.
The transformer is the brain stem. If the transformer malfunctions, you don't get electricity to the bulb, either, and it does not function. Same with the body.
The power lines to your house from the transformer is the spinal cord. If something interrupts the power lines from functioning (malfunction or torn down), you don't get electricity to the bulb, either, and it does not function.
The outlet, lamp cord and even the bulb are the peripheral nervous system/nerves from spinal cord to body parts. Again, if these do not function correctly, the bulb does not light.
If there is a malfunction at any of these areas of the electrical system, the outcome is the same--no light. If any of the areas of the nervous system do function properly, the outcome is the same-- neurological symptoms.
The question is where is the damage in the electrical grid/system. The outcome is the same- no light. Depending where the damage to the nervous system and what caused it determines the disease. The outcome is the same-- neurological symptoms.
To figure out the cause of no light, one might have to contact the electrical company or an electician to diagnose the problem. To figure out the cause of neurological symptoms, one has to contact a medical doctor or a medical specialists. These doctors get to figure out which one of the many diseases/ conditions/trauma is causing the neurological symptoms. Only when the damage is in the brain (electrical company), brain stem (transformer), or spinal cord (power lines) that the cause could be MS. It still depends on the reason for the damage.
I hope this does not muddy the waters, but helps in talking about MS to others or for those who are asking 'do I have MS.'
There has been analogies using an electrical cord but I want to go further than that. i am going to use the whole electricity grid.
The electrical company is going to be the brain. If the company has troubles producing electricity (nerve impulses) or controlling the electricity, then the bulb in your lamp is not going to function properly. The bulb might not light at all, it might flicker or it might blow. In the body, that body part might not work at all, it might partially function, or it might over react. The function affected might be sensory or motor.
The transformer is the brain stem. If the transformer malfunctions, you don't get electricity to the bulb, either, and it does not function. Same with the body.
The power lines to your house from the transformer is the spinal cord. If something interrupts the power lines from functioning (malfunction or torn down), you don't get electricity to the bulb, either, and it does not function.
The outlet, lamp cord and even the bulb are the peripheral nervous system/nerves from spinal cord to body parts. Again, if these do not function correctly, the bulb does not light.
If there is a malfunction at any of these areas of the electrical system, the outcome is the same--no light. If any of the areas of the nervous system do function properly, the outcome is the same-- neurological symptoms.
The question is where is the damage in the electrical grid/system. The outcome is the same- no light. Depending where the damage to the nervous system and what caused it determines the disease. The outcome is the same-- neurological symptoms.
To figure out the cause of no light, one might have to contact the electrical company or an electician to diagnose the problem. To figure out the cause of neurological symptoms, one has to contact a medical doctor or a medical specialists. These doctors get to figure out which one of the many diseases/ conditions/trauma is causing the neurological symptoms. Only when the damage is in the brain (electrical company), brain stem (transformer), or spinal cord (power lines) that the cause could be MS. It still depends on the reason for the damage.
I hope this does not muddy the waters, but helps in talking about MS to others or for those who are asking 'do I have MS.'
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