Welcome to Nelson MS Society
The Nelson MS Society was formed in 1964 and has been supporting people in our region who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington's Disease and other allied conditions every since.
This website is a work in progress so please check back again as we add more pages and information.
What is Multiple Sclerosis ?
MS is a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
The CNS is responsible for our conscious and unconscious functioning, including movement and the response to sensations such as sight, touch and hearing. It directs these functions by sending its instructions in the form of electrical impulses to the appropriate sites along nerve fibres.
Nerve fibres are coated in a protective insulating covering called the myelin sheath—this serves a very similar function to the coating around electrical wires. Myelin is important in speeding electrical conduction along nerve fibres and in insulating nerve fibres from one another. There are currently just over 4000 people living with MS in New Zealand.
The CNS is responsible for our conscious and unconscious functioning, including movement and the response to sensations such as sight, touch and hearing. It directs these functions by sending its instructions in the form of electrical impulses to the appropriate sites along nerve fibres.
Nerve fibres are coated in a protective insulating covering called the myelin sheath—this serves a very similar function to the coating around electrical wires. Myelin is important in speeding electrical conduction along nerve fibres and in insulating nerve fibres from one another. There are currently just over 4000 people living with MS in New Zealand.