Medications
For severe flare-ups, you may be put on corticosteroids, such as oral prednisone or intravenous methyprednisolone (Solu-Medrol). They reduce inflammation in the central nervous system and inhibit your immune system from attacking myelin. Unfortunately, steroids don't change the progression of the disease and are not prescribed for milder flare-ups because they lose their effectiveness if overused.
For more serious forms of MS, your options are more limited. At this stage it is not known whether interferon beta has any impact on progressive MS. Overseas a new drug called mitoxantrone has become available for treating secondary progressive MS. While it has shown some effectiveness in treating MS, it has also been associated with some serious side effects. It is yet to be registered in Australia and New Zealand.
For relieving MS symptoms, there is a wide array of drugs that can be extremely helpful, especially in milder cases. Antipasmodics ease the muscle spasms that can accompany MS. These include botulinum toxin injections (Botox), baclofen (Baclo) and diazepam (Vallium). Tremors can be controlled with drugs like clonazepam (Rivotril) and primidone (Mysoline). Some people with MS develop urinary complications. For urge incontinence, in which the need to urinate comes on very suddenly (see Urinary incontinence, see on later), anticholinergic drugs, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan), are useful. If urinating is a problem, drugs like maprotiline (Ludiomil) are a good choice. There are also medications for sexual dsyfunction: silenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenfil (Levitra).
Depression is common if you suffer from MS, due both to the effects of the disease on the brain and the impact of living with a degenerative condition. Tricyclic antidepressants work well and may confer other benefits still under investigaion. It's important to talk to your doctor about the emotional side of this disease. Too many people to try conduct their lives in a 'business as usual' fashion when they could be getting effective professional help.
>Will MS affect my ability to have children?
Rest assured that it won't. Studies have repeatedly shown that women with multiple sclerosis can safely become pregnant and deliver children. And fortunaetly, relpases become less common late in pregnancy, although they may increase in frequency during the first three months following childbirth.
>I've just been diagnosed with MS. Should I quit my job? I'm worried that I won't be able to keep up.
It's normal to want to stop working when you're going through a crisis period like this. But experts say that it's vital you stay employed through this time. Too often people quit then regret it later once they realise the decision was premature. It's far easier to keep a job than it is to find a new one when you're not feeling well. Talk to your employer about part-time status or possibly working from home.
>What is the Swank Diet?
Devised by Dr Roy Swank of Oregan Health Sciences University, this diet is very low in saturated fat and recommends specific amounts of polyunsaturated oils (such as canola and safflower). Many patients say that following the Swank Diet has slowed the course of their MS and reduced the number of attacks they have. There is no scientific evidence, however, that this diet has specific benefits for treating this disease beyond what a healthy, balanced diet would provide.
Lifestyle changes
One of the greatest challenges of MS is dealing with its impact on your daily life. While the following lifestyle measures may not slow the disease itself, they will help you deal with it much better, both physically and mentally.
Multiple sclerosis is a difficult disease to deal with because no-one is exactly sure what causes it in the first place. New treatments are continually under investigation. Faced with the fact that they have a potentially disabling condition and there's no single cure, many patients with MS are willing to explore alternative therapies and unproven treatments. One of the most controversial is the use of marijuana, an illegal substance in Australia and New Zealand.
It has been suggested, but not proven, that marijuana can help certain MS symptoms, particularly spasticity, tremors, depression and pain. However, few people want to deal with the risks of positive drug tests at their workplace or even time in jail that can come with the use of medical marijuana. Overseas, researchers have developed a nasal spray of the drug, with which they are conducting clinical trials for a number of conditions.
common problem with MS. And drink water, at least 2 litres a day. Keeping well hydrated not only beats constipation but will also prevent the urinary tract infections that occasionally occur among some people with this disease.
Keep cool. Heat worsens symptoms in many people so make sure your air conditioners are working well in summer, avoid spas and saunas and choose swimming pools that aren't kept too warm.
Natural methods
Nearly 60 percent of people with MS try some form of nontraditional therapy. Sometimes these approaches can be very helpful, but be sure to talk to your doctor so you'll know what to avoid. Some popular dietary supplements, including echinacea, garlic and ginseng, can actually worsen MS symptoms by overstimulating the immune system. The following therapies have shown some promise:
Procedures
Usually recommended only for people who have sudden, severe attacks that aren't helped by steroids, plasmapheresis, or plasma exchange, involves removing blood, spinning out the blood cells from the plasma and replacing the plasma with a synthetic fluid. The new mix is pumped back into the body. Doctors aren't sure why this works but they think the technique may remove destructive factors in your blood, turning off the process that's destroying your myelin.
Both physio and occupational therapy can help you navigate physical limitations. And psychological counselling helps you deal with the mental distresses of a chronic condition. Family counselling is often a good idea because your loved ones also need coping skills.
For severe flare-ups, you may be put on corticosteroids, such as oral prednisone or intravenous methyprednisolone (Solu-Medrol). They reduce inflammation in the central nervous system and inhibit your immune system from attacking myelin. Unfortunately, steroids don't change the progression of the disease and are not prescribed for milder flare-ups because they lose their effectiveness if overused.
For more serious forms of MS, your options are more limited. At this stage it is not known whether interferon beta has any impact on progressive MS. Overseas a new drug called mitoxantrone has become available for treating secondary progressive MS. While it has shown some effectiveness in treating MS, it has also been associated with some serious side effects. It is yet to be registered in Australia and New Zealand.
For relieving MS symptoms, there is a wide array of drugs that can be extremely helpful, especially in milder cases. Antipasmodics ease the muscle spasms that can accompany MS. These include botulinum toxin injections (Botox), baclofen (Baclo) and diazepam (Vallium). Tremors can be controlled with drugs like clonazepam (Rivotril) and primidone (Mysoline). Some people with MS develop urinary complications. For urge incontinence, in which the need to urinate comes on very suddenly (see Urinary incontinence, see on later), anticholinergic drugs, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan), are useful. If urinating is a problem, drugs like maprotiline (Ludiomil) are a good choice. There are also medications for sexual dsyfunction: silenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenfil (Levitra).
Depression is common if you suffer from MS, due both to the effects of the disease on the brain and the impact of living with a degenerative condition. Tricyclic antidepressants work well and may confer other benefits still under investigaion. It's important to talk to your doctor about the emotional side of this disease. Too many people to try conduct their lives in a 'business as usual' fashion when they could be getting effective professional help.
>Will MS affect my ability to have children?
Rest assured that it won't. Studies have repeatedly shown that women with multiple sclerosis can safely become pregnant and deliver children. And fortunaetly, relpases become less common late in pregnancy, although they may increase in frequency during the first three months following childbirth.
>I've just been diagnosed with MS. Should I quit my job? I'm worried that I won't be able to keep up.
It's normal to want to stop working when you're going through a crisis period like this. But experts say that it's vital you stay employed through this time. Too often people quit then regret it later once they realise the decision was premature. It's far easier to keep a job than it is to find a new one when you're not feeling well. Talk to your employer about part-time status or possibly working from home.
>What is the Swank Diet?
Devised by Dr Roy Swank of Oregan Health Sciences University, this diet is very low in saturated fat and recommends specific amounts of polyunsaturated oils (such as canola and safflower). Many patients say that following the Swank Diet has slowed the course of their MS and reduced the number of attacks they have. There is no scientific evidence, however, that this diet has specific benefits for treating this disease beyond what a healthy, balanced diet would provide.
Lifestyle changes
One of the greatest challenges of MS is dealing with its impact on your daily life. While the following lifestyle measures may not slow the disease itself, they will help you deal with it much better, both physically and mentally.
- Start a regular exercise regimen. Your muscles can weaken with MS so it's essential to stay in as good shape as possible. Exercise helps maintain strength, coordination and balance and can even reduce spasticity. Try riding a stationary bike, walking, swimming or doing thai chi or yoga. Just don't get too warm; many people with MS find that being overheated worsens their symptoms.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. Proper nutrition helps boost your immune system and prevent colds and flu, which can worsen MS. Get lots of fibre from fruit, vegetables and whole grains to prevent constipation, a
Multiple sclerosis is a difficult disease to deal with because no-one is exactly sure what causes it in the first place. New treatments are continually under investigation. Faced with the fact that they have a potentially disabling condition and there's no single cure, many patients with MS are willing to explore alternative therapies and unproven treatments. One of the most controversial is the use of marijuana, an illegal substance in Australia and New Zealand.
It has been suggested, but not proven, that marijuana can help certain MS symptoms, particularly spasticity, tremors, depression and pain. However, few people want to deal with the risks of positive drug tests at their workplace or even time in jail that can come with the use of medical marijuana. Overseas, researchers have developed a nasal spray of the drug, with which they are conducting clinical trials for a number of conditions.
common problem with MS. And drink water, at least 2 litres a day. Keeping well hydrated not only beats constipation but will also prevent the urinary tract infections that occasionally occur among some people with this disease.
Keep cool. Heat worsens symptoms in many people so make sure your air conditioners are working well in summer, avoid spas and saunas and choose swimming pools that aren't kept too warm.
Natural methods
Nearly 60 percent of people with MS try some form of nontraditional therapy. Sometimes these approaches can be very helpful, but be sure to talk to your doctor so you'll know what to avoid. Some popular dietary supplements, including echinacea, garlic and ginseng, can actually worsen MS symptoms by overstimulating the immune system. The following therapies have shown some promise:
- Antioxidants. Because the nerve damage of MS is partly due to oxidation, antioxidants may make sense. In addition to plenty of fruit and vegetables, try vitamin A, C and E supplements as well as coenzyme Q10, grape seed extract and N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
- Acupuncture. Many report this ancient Chinese therapy helps lessen symptoms. Find a qualified practitioner experienced with MS.
- Magensium. This mineral may help reduce the uncomfortable muscle spams that often accompany MS.
- Essential fatty acids. Flaxased oil and evening primrose oil, both fatty acids, may be helpful in protecting the myelin sheath.
Procedures
Usually recommended only for people who have sudden, severe attacks that aren't helped by steroids, plasmapheresis, or plasma exchange, involves removing blood, spinning out the blood cells from the plasma and replacing the plasma with a synthetic fluid. The new mix is pumped back into the body. Doctors aren't sure why this works but they think the technique may remove destructive factors in your blood, turning off the process that's destroying your myelin.
Both physio and occupational therapy can help you navigate physical limitations. And psychological counselling helps you deal with the mental distresses of a chronic condition. Family counselling is often a good idea because your loved ones also need coping skills.
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