These figures are better than previously assumed. This much more favorable prognosis has also been confirmed by other researchers. On the average, it takes 20 to 29 years from the time of diagnosis for 50% of a collective of MS patients to be able to walk no more than 100 meters. In earlier studies, this stage of disability was generally expected to be reached after only 15 years.

According to the registry data, MS is diagnosed an average of 3.5 years after its clinical onset. For this reason, Flachenecker and coauthors stress that it is important for family practitioners and other physicians in the community to refer any patient with unexplained neurological deficits to a neurologist.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99300.php