Secondary-Progressive MS
About 40% of people who are diagnosed with MS will begin with the relapsing-remitting form but will go on to develop secondary progressive MS, usually within 15-20 years of the first onset of symptoms.
In secondary progressive MS, relapses and remissions may still occur but disability can progress even in “remission”. It often continues to show a pattern of relapses - times of increased activity when symptoms become suddenly worse. People with secondary progressive MS become gradually more disabled as time goes on, but the level of disability reached varies from person to person. MS does not generally affect life expectancy. The early deaths seen in a small percentage of cases are due to other factors; for example from complications such as a chest infection.
