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Trial Ins & Outs of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)

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  • Trial Ins & Outs of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)

    For many MS trials, the EDSS is used to gauge disability. HALT-MS accepted levels 3.5-5.5. For reference, my EDSS was 2.5 in April of 2009 (snowboard healthy), 4.0 in August (cane helpful) when I applied, and 6.5 in January (walker mandatory). I remitted to a 5.5 in February, but traveling those 100 meters without aid or rest took total focus and all of my strength.

    Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)

    ❏ 0.0 - Normal neurological exam (all grade 0 in all Functional System (FS) scores*).

    ❏ 1.0 - No disability, minimal signs in one FS* (i.e., grade 1).

    ❏ 1.5 - No disability, minimal signs in more than one FS* (more than 1 FS grade 1).

    ❏ 2.0 - Minimal disability in one FS (one FS grade 2, others 0 or 1).

    ❏ 2.5 - Minimal disability in two FS (two FS grade 2, others 0 or 1).

    ❏ 3.0 - Moderate disability in one FS (one FS grade 3, others 0 or 1) or mild disability in three or
    four FS (three or four FS grade 2, others 0 or 1) though fully ambulatory.

    ❏ 3.5 - Fully ambulatory but with moderate disability in one FS (one grade 3) and one or two FS
    grade 2; or two FS grade 3 (others 0 or 1) or five grade 2 (others 0 or 1).

    ❏ 4.0 - Fully ambulatory without aid, self-sufficient, up and about some 12 hours a day despite
    relatively severe disability consisting of one FS grade 4 (others 0 or 1), or combination of
    lesser grades exceeding limits of previous steps; able to walk without aid or rest some 500
    meters.

    ❏ 4.5 - Fully ambulatory without aid, up and about much of the day, able to work a full day, may
    otherwise have some limitation of full activity or require minimal assistance; characterized
    by relatively severe disability usually consisting of one FS grade 4 (others or 1) or
    combinations of lesser grades exceeding limits of previous steps; able to walk without aid
    or rest some 300 meters.

    ❏ 5.0 - Ambulatory without aid or rest for about 200 meters; disability severe enough to impair
    full daily activities (e.g., to work a full day without special provisions); (Usual FS
    equivalents are one grade 5 alone, others 0 or 1; or combinations of lesser grades usually
    exceeding specifications for step 4.0).

    ❏ 5.5 - Ambulatory without aid for about 100 meters; disability severe enough to preclude full
    daily activities; (Usual FS equivalents are one grade 5 alone, others 0 or 1; or combination
    of lesser grades usually exceeding those for step 4.0).

    ❏ 6.0 - Intermittent or unilateral constant assistance (cane, crutch, brace) required to walk about
    100 meters with or without resting; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than
    two FS grade 3+).

    ❏ 6.5 - Constant bilateral assistance (canes, crutches, braces) required to walk about 20 meters
    without resting; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than two FS grade
    3+).

    ❏ 7.0 - Unable to walk beyond approximately 5 meters even with aid, essentially restricted to
    wheelchair; wheels self in standard wheelchair and transfers alone; up and about in
    wheelchair some 12 hours a day; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than
    one FS grade 4+; very rarely pyramidal grade 5 alone).

    ❏ 7.5 - Unable to take more than a few steps; restricted to wheelchair; may need aid in transfer;
    wheels self but cannot carry on in standard wheelchair a full day; May require motorized
    wheelchair; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than one FS grade 4+).

    ❏ 8.0 - Essentially restricted to bed or chair or perambulated in wheelchair, but may be out of
    bed itself much of the day; retains many self-care functions; generally has effective use of
    arms; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations, generally grade 4+ in several systems).

    ❏ 8.5 - Essentially restricted to bed much of day; has some effective use of arm(s); retains some
    self-care functions; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations, generally 4+ in several
    systems).

    ❏ 9.0 - Helpless bed patient; can communicate and eat; (Usual FS equivalents are
    combinations, mostly grade 4+).

    ❏ 9.5 - Totally helpless bed patient; unable to communicate effectively or eat/swallow; (Usual FS
    equivalents are combinations, almost all grade 4+).

    ❏ 10.0 - Death due to MS.



    *Excludes cerebral function grade 1.

    Note 1: EDSS steps 1.0 to 4.5 refer to patients who are fully ambulatory and the precise step
    number is defined by the Functional System score(s). EDSS steps 5.0 to 9.5 are defined by
    the impairment to ambulation and usual equivalents in Functional Systems scores are
    provided.

    Note 2: EDSS should not change by 1.0 step unless there is a change in the same direction of at
    least one step in at least one FS.
    Dave Bexfield
    ActiveMSers

  • #2
    I'm sorry your numbers jumped like that, mine did too. I was a 4.0-4.5 from diagnosis four years ago until about September '09 then it jumped to a 6.0 and the last one in January was a 6.5. I found out today that it is because of five (5) new lesions on my spine So we are trying to figure out what the next step is. I don't think I have the guts to try what you are! I applaud your guts and ability to follow through!

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