Another 10 percent will reach that level ten years from onset. In the early years, a pattern of remission and relapse is not uncommon. There is no cure, but there are therapies to relieve discomfort and increase functional capacity. It is wise to seek out sound medical advice. Some patients find it helpful to have a specialist consult with their local doctor on a treatment protocol.
Victims range in age from pre-adolescence through seniority.
The profile of those diagnosed, however, is highly skewed toward upper income brackets. There are other, non-monetary losses to society. The divorce rate increases in marriages where one of the partners becomes disabled. They rarely graduate with their class, and have extreme difficulty continuing education beyond high school. There is always the threat of total despair living with a disease about which so little is known.