With proper treatment, people may recover some lost function when the disease goes into remission. A recent study showed that irreversible disability occurred earlier in individuals who had steady progression of the disease from the onset. People who had alternating relapses and remissions went longer before having irreversible disabilities. Once the irreversible disabilities started, however, they progressed at the same rate in both groups. Multiple sclerosis is not contagious and poses no risk to others, but it does tend to run in families.
Treatment has two main goals.
The first is to stop or slow the immune system's attack on the myelin coating of the nerves. The second is to relieve the symptoms and help the person function as normally as possible. The immune system is treated with medications. A rehabilitation program is important to maintain as much function as possible and prevent symptoms that can occur if the person is inactive. Rehabilitation may include physical therapy , occupational therapy , and speech therapy .