No two cases of MS are exactly the same. Each person will have a different set of symptoms, and the timing and severity of relapses, as well as disease progression, will differ from person to person. However, doctors and researchers do use certain terms to characterize the nature of a person's condition.
To better develop appropriate management plans, MS has typically been divided into classifications, or types. At diagnosis, a person is most likely to be classified as having one of the following:
Those diagnosed with RRMS may eventually transition to a fourth category:
Over time, healthcare providers will monitor whether a person’s classification changes and may describe the state of the person’s MS with these terms: