Treating Multiple Sclerosis
A variety of drugs are used to treat different aspects of this difficult disease and to slow its progression
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A variety of drugs are used to treat different aspects of this difficult disease and to slow its progression. In this article from the Mayo Clinic, several drugs and their benefits and side effects are discussed:Multiple Sclerosis TreatmentThere's no cure yet for MS, but there are treatments to manage symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, and give you more symptom-free days:National MS Society: TreatmentsMultiple sclerosis acts not only in different ways in different people, it can also show up in different ways within an individual. That's why there is no one treatment that works for everyone and there probably isn't one course of treatment you'll follow for the entire time you have MS. Learn what some of your alternatives are, including interferon drugs, at this Medicinenet.com page:Multiple Sclerosis Causes, Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis Information
Possible Treatment Side EffectsFatigue and flu-like symptoms are common side effects of some MS drugs. This WebMD page discusses frequently used drugs and their side effects:Multiple Sclerosis: Drug Therapy New TherapiesIf you want to find out the latest thinking on treatment, check out the National MS Society's roundup of research news:MS Research News Holistic Treatments The National MS Society covers a wide variety of holistic treatments in this page, from biofeedback and acupuncture to nutritional changes and yoga:National MS Society: Complementary and Alternative MedicineIf you're interested in learning more you may want to buy the Society's 2007 book on the subject: Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis
Resources to Find Doctors
Don't be surprised if, when your doctor talks to you about your condition, your mind simply shuts down, or if, after your appointment you can't recall much of what your doctor said. This is common; you can solve this problem by bringing a friend or family member with you to your appointments. Encourage your friend to ask questions and to take notes. Don't be afraid to ask any questions you feel you need the answer to, even if you may be scared of the answer or feel it's an answer you should know already. Ignorance won't help you fight this disease, but information will.Write down any questions you have before going to your appointment and don’t be afraid to ask your health care provider to repeat things or to explain them in a way you can better understand.
Possible Treatment Side EffectsFatigue and flu-like symptoms are common side effects of some MS drugs. This WebMD page discusses frequently used drugs and their side effects:Multiple Sclerosis: Drug Therapy New TherapiesIf you want to find out the latest thinking on treatment, check out the National MS Society's roundup of research news:MS Research News Holistic Treatments The National MS Society covers a wide variety of holistic treatments in this page, from biofeedback and acupuncture to nutritional changes and yoga:National MS Society: Complementary and Alternative MedicineIf you're interested in learning more you may want to buy the Society's 2007 book on the subject: Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis
Home TherapiesThere's a lot you can do at home to manage your symptoms. Here's the National MS Society's round-up of advice on healthy living approaches like exercise, diet, and stress management:Healthy Living with MS Health-care Providers Who Can HelpMultiple sclerosis is a challenging disease in part because it affects people often in such different ways. For this reason not all people will need to see the same types of doctors. It's important that you follow the advice of your primary care doctor and see the recommended specialists:Doctors and Medical Specialists for Multiple Sclerosis
Resources to Find Doctors
- Start with your primary care doctor; he or she will be able to direct you to the specialists you need. If you feel that you need additional medical resources this site can help: Healthcentral.com: Multiple Sclerosis Doctors and Hospitals
Don't be surprised if, when your doctor talks to you about your condition, your mind simply shuts down, or if, after your appointment you can't recall much of what your doctor said. This is common; you can solve this problem by bringing a friend or family member with you to your appointments. Encourage your friend to ask questions and to take notes. Don't be afraid to ask any questions you feel you need the answer to, even if you may be scared of the answer or feel it's an answer you should know already. Ignorance won't help you fight this disease, but information will.Write down any questions you have before going to your appointment and don’t be afraid to ask your health care provider to repeat things or to explain them in a way you can better understand.
