I know several people with MS.

What's tricky about is that each case is different. Research has been unable to point out a correlation in what causes MS. Is it environmental? Is it hereditary?

People who have MS have lesions on their brain and/or on the spinal cord. "Flare ups", as you referred to them, are what the relapsing part of relapsing-remitting refer to. There are two identified types of MS, and this is one of them. Symptoms come and go as lesions in the brain grow or become dormant until symptoms return. Progressive MS is different in that lesions do not become dormant, and symptoms become progressively worse (most patients with this type do end up paralyzed).

Now, each part of the brain and spinal cord are linked to different functions of our body. No two MS patients have the same symptoms and it is often difficult for doctors to know what the fate is for a patient. Yes, some may go blind and some may experience paralysis, BUT that does not mean all patients with MS will experience those exact symptoms. MS attacks the neurological system and can worsen depression or bipolar disorder in patients, but again, this is not true in all cases. Patients with a lesion on the brain stem can experience tremendous pain and suffering. Patients with lesions on the part of the brain that controls vision can go blind. A lesion on the spinal cord could cause numbness, tingling, and paralysis.

I hope this corrects a couple misconceptions within your theory. Doesn't change the fact that it is a solid theory and I'd be glad to see a popular television show accurately portraying a character suffering from MS. It is an invisible illness and the more attention it gets, the better. I'm not an expert, and all I know about MS, I've learned from friends who suffer from it. I also didn't pay attention in psychology, so forgive me for my lack of terminology relating to the brain. I thought it was important to note that not all people with MS will suffer from the same set of symptoms.