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Learning the Lingo

From antibodies to dysphagia, living with MS can feel like you're learning a whole new language! It may feel overwheelming at times but getting clued up on these terms can be very helpful when it comes to having positive conversations with your doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Look it up!

Translate tricky MS terms using our handy MS dictionary:

Ageusia

Ageusia

Taste buds in a tangle? Meet ageusia.

Albumin

Albumin

Protein that keeps your bloodstream moving.

Allodynia

Allodynia

Don’t like people being all up in your face?

Alopecia

Alopecia

The immune system malfunction linked to hair loss.

Antibody

Antibody

The secret to defending against bacteria and viruses.

Ataxia

Ataxia

Unsteady on your feet? Learn more about ataxia.

Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune Disease

When the immune system gets a bit confused...

Axon

Axon

The middle men of the nervous system, often impacted by MS.

Babinski Reflex

Babinski Reflex

A test for MS which focusses feet first.

Biomarker

Biomarker

The different measures of MS activity and progression.

Bladder dysfunction

Bladder dysfunction

When the link between nerves and bladder goes wrong.

Blood-brain barrier

Blood-brain barrier

Protecting your brain from viruses and harm, 24/7.

Brain

Brain

We all need something to fill the space between our ears... right?

Brain Fog

Brain Fog

AKA cog fog, difficulties in keeping thoughts straight.

Caregiver

Caregiver

Often the kindest, coolest people on earth!

Central nervous system

Central nervous system

The CNS – the conductor of our bodies’ orchestras.

Cerebrum

Cerebrum

Our brains’ mission control panel – it’s amazing!

chronic

Chronic

A categorization for long-term illnesses.

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials

Breaking ground in science to bring new kinds of care.

Clinically isolated syndrome

Clinically isolated syndrome

A one-off ‘attack’ of the body’s own immune system.

Cog fog

Cog fog

AKA brain fog, difficulties in keeping thoughts straight.

Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive Impairment

A slight decline in memory often linked to MS. 

Computerized Axial Tomography

Computerized Axial Tomography

An x-ray of the entire body to help pinpoint MS symptoms.

Degenerative Disease

Degenerative Disease

The name for health conditions that worsen over time.

Demyelination

Demyelination

The eroding of the nerve fibers’ protective coating.

Diplopia

Diplopia

Diplopi-huh?!? Don’t sweat, it’s also known as double vision.

Disease Modifying Therapies

Disease Modifying Therapies

The kinds of treatments that can help slow MS progression.

Double Vision

Double Vision

Seeing double? That could be linked to your MS.

Dysarthria

Dysarthria

The slurring of speech caused by trouble controlling muscles.

Dysesthesia

Dysesthesia

Caused by abnormalities in the spinal cord.

Dysmetria

Dysmetria

Two left feet? Dysmetria can affect the arms too.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia

Trouble swallowing food, water or saliva.

Dysphonia

Dysphonia

Problems co-ordinating throat and mouth muscles.

Encephalomyelitis

Encephalomyelitis

The less ‘catchy’ term for Multiple Sclerosis.

Epstein Barr Virus

Epstein Barr Virus

A.K.A the ‘kissing disease’ could be linked to MS.

Exacerbation

Exacerbation

The impact of MS symptom relapses.

EDSS

Expanded Disability Status Scale

A neurological exam to help assess the MS care needed.

Fatigue

Fatigue

More than just tiredness, fatigue often strikes thanks to MS.

Flare-up

Flare-up

When MS symptoms re-appear after a quiet period.

Foot Drop

Foot Drop

The clue’s in the name, but what’s the link to MS?

Gadolinium

Gadolinium

A medical compound to help identify new lesions

Gait

Gait

Your strut, your walk… sometimes impacted by MS.

Gray Matter

Gray Matter

The darker tissue of the brain and spinal cord.

Hypogeusia

Hypogeusia

A reduction in ability to detect sweet, sour, or salty tastes.

Immunosuppression

Immunosuppression

When the immune system attacks healthy cells.

Incontinence

Incontinence

Maybe not fun to talk about, but important to know what to do…

Inflammation

Inflammation

Fluid accumulation to protect the body from further harm.

Infusion

Infusion

A kind of MS treatment where medicines are injected.

Lesions

Lesions

An area of damage on tissue caused by injury or disease

Lumbar Puncture

Lumbar Puncture

A common procedure to help diagnose MS.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The key tool in helping identify MS lesions.

Marijuana

Marijuana

More than just hippie grass, it’s been linked to helping MS symptoms.

MS

MS

MS, Multiple Sclerosis… what’s in a name?

MS Clusters

MS Clusters

Multiple MS cases occurring over a short period of time or in one location.

MS Gene (NR1H3)

MS Gene (NR1H3)

Breaking down the link between genes and MS

MS Hug

MS Hug

Not so friendly, it’s a band of pain around your torso.

MSQLI

MSQLI

A questionnaire to help measure QoL with MS.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis

MS, Multiple Sclerosis… what’s in a name?

Muscle Stiffness

Muscle Stiffness

Trouble moving around in daily life.

Myelin

Myelin

The protective wrapping for our nerve fibres.

Myelin Sheath

Myelin Sheath

The insulation space that protects nerve fibers.

Nervous System

Nervous System

Co-ordinates all your actions, both voluntary and involuntary.

Neurodegenerative Disease

Neurodegenerative Disease

Conditions characterized by progressive nervous system dysfunction.

Neurologist

Neurologist

Clever scientists specializing in the nervous system.

Neuron

Neuron

They process and transmit nerve impulses throughout the body.

NEDA 4

NEDA 4

A way for doctors to evaluate MS symptoms.

Nocturia

Nocturia

Up and down in the night going to the bathroom?

Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist

The king or queen of helping you navigate daily activities.

Ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologist

The eye specialist who helps with MS-related vision issues.

Optics Neuritis

Optics Neuritis

The attack of the optic nerve by the body’s immune system.

Paresthesia

Paresthesia

Burning, prickling, tingling… it could be Paraesthesia.

Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

Your go-to for help with mobility, balance and posture.

Plaques

Plaques

Damaged tissue that stops signals travelling round the body.

PML

PML

A rare virus linked to MS involving progressive brain damage.

Primary Progressive MS

Primary Progressive MS

Worsening symptoms from the get-go, with no relapses or remission.

Progressive-Relapsing MS

Progressive-Relapsing MS

A rare kind of MS affecting just 5% of the population.

QOL (Quality of Life)

QOL (Quality of Life)

A phrase you might hear from your medical team.

Relapse

Relapse

Flare up of new MS symptoms, or the return of old ones.

Relapsing-Remitting MS

Relapsing-Remitting MS

The most common kind of MS; symptoms flare and quiet.

Remission

Remission

Ahhhh, the most beautiful word in the MS language.

Remyelination

Remyelination

Repair of nerve fibres to help messages travel round the body.

Secondary Progressive MS

Secondary- Progressive MS

The second phase of Multiple Sclerosis.

Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual Dysfunction

Being open about the impact of MS between the sheets.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Feel like you can’t catch Zz’s? Learn about sleep apnea.

Spasticity

Spasticity

Involuntary muscle spasms, usually in the legs.

Speech Pathologist

Speech Pathologist

Experts to help with speech and swallowing issues.

Spinal Tap

Spinal Tap

A common procedure to help diagnose MS.

Tremors

Tremors

Shaking symptoms often linked to MS.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia

The feeling of acute pain in the face.

Trigger

Trigger

Knowing what causes symptom flares can help keep them under control.

Uhtoff's Phenomenon

Uhthoff’s Phenomenon

The link between body temperature & MS symptoms.

Vertigo

Vertigo

Whether dizzy spells or the room spinning, vertigo can be linked to MS.

White Matter

White Matter

A core part of the brain made up of axons.

World MS Day

World MS Day

The highlight of the year! Do you know its purpose?