The Natural Course of MS
MS left unchecked is like a river out of control
A roaring river may start out as a tiny stream of water in the form of run-off from a light rain. Slowly, it trickles through small crevices, all the while adding to its volume from still more run-off as it gathers speed. Soon, it's a genuine flow, gathering strength and power. Not long after, it's not the terrain that dictates the flow, but the river itself. As history has shown, if left unchecked, slow trickles can become powerful forces of nature, carving out canyons and valleys along the way.
As civilization has evolved, so have the ways to control mighty rivers. The early days of trying to control Mother Nature have come a long way. From dikes and canals to huge dams; even changing the river's course, humankind has found ways to tame the powerful forces of nature.
No matter how advanced we like to think we've become, just when we think we have things under control, WHAM! It's almost like Nature is saying, "I'm in control here."
It's much the same with many things in life, and especially with MS. There is a course to run. And much like the small stream, if left unchecked, it too can turn into a force that's hard to control. Conversely, in many cases, if steps are taken early on, (early therapy initiation) the course may be slowed and more easily controlled. Until there is a cure for MS, Mother Nature is still in control, but we can work with her in the mean time.
As is the case with rivers, no two cases of multiple sclerosis are alike. Just like the people who have MS, the disease affects each person on a very individual level. While some people don't experience much progression, most people with MS will experience some level of disability in the years following the onset of MS.
Some people will experience exacerbations and then not experience further progression of the disease. At the onset, MS symptoms may indeed fluctuate, but the odds of them progressing in severity are greater than of them stabilizing.
However, because of the large amount of variability in the presentation of the disease, no predictions as to the final outcome can be made. One thing seems to be clear: starting therapy as soon as possible can greatly diminish your symptoms. (Remember the words "early therapy initiation"?) Early treatment has been shown to minimize exacerbations.