Symptoms of multiple

sclerosis include fa-

tigue, weakness, spas-

ticity, problems with

balancing, bladder

and bowel problems,

numbness, loss of vi-

sion, tremors, depres-

sion, diarrhea, pain,

and an unstable mood.

These symptoms can

eventually lead to a

person’s loss of sight,

touch, and can eventu-

ally ruin their ability to

walk and think.

Symptoms of Multiple

Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is

a chronic inflamma-

tory disease of the

central nervous sys-

tem. There are four

categories of multi-

ple sclerosis and they

include: Relapsing-

remitting, secondary-

progressive, primary

-progressive, and

progressive-

relapsing. Multiple

sclerosis affects peo-

ple between the ages

of 20 and 40 years

old, and about 2.5

million people

around the world

have it. This condi-

tion can lead to

physical, cognitive,

and psychological

disabilities and it

affects both young

adults and about 2.5

million people

around the world.

Usually, sclerosis

occurs when the

myelin sheath, a pro-

tective covering

around nerve fibres

in the brain, begins

to deteriorate and the

brain's communica-

tion with the rest of

the body begins to

slow down.

Multiple Sclerosis

What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?

February 18, 2013

Volume 1, Issue 1

Relapsing Remitting and Secondary-Progressive MS

Diagnosing MS

Relapsing-Remitting multiple sclerosis consists of attacks that last from days to

weeks and the patient either has full recovery or he/she has lingering neurological

symptoms. This form of the disease is the most common.

Secondary-Progressive multiple sclerosis starts with the relapsing-remitting stage

that becomes very progressive and then moves on to minor relapses and minor remis-

sions.

There is no specific test that determines whether or not a person has multiple sclerosis.

To diagnose MS, physicians hold conversations with their patients, and take note of their medi-

cal history in order to evaluate their symptoms and signs and rule out any other ailments that do

not have a connection with the condition. The physician will ask the patient about past ill-

nesses, surgeries, family neurological disorders, where they have lived, history of medication,

and allergies. Next the physician will check for exaggerated reflexes, awkward upward move-

ment of the big toe, and eye exams. Another tool that is used to diagnose MS is an MRI which

is done on the brain. The MRI is safe and accurate and it provides clearest evidence of white

matter lesions in the central nervous system to monitor MS. These diagnosis are only 90-95

percent correct most of the time because the diagnosis can be very difficult.

Primary-Progressive and Progressive-Relapsing MS

Primary-Progressive multiple sclerosis is the development of the disability level

without any relapses or remissions. Temporary or small improvements from the con-

dition may happen.

Progressive-Relapsing multiple sclerosis is the clear development in the disability

level from the beginning and clear relapses that the patient may or may not be able to

remember.

Newsletter Title Page 2

Betaseron®, Avonex®, Rebif®, Copaxone®, Tysabri®, and Novantrone® are six prod-

ucts that have been approved by the FDA as disease modifiers for multiple sclerosis. Betase-

ron® stops the swelling of lesions, decreases the relapse rate of MS, increases the time between

attacks and their severity, and decreases the number of lesions seen in an MRI. Avonex® slows

down the relapsing rate of MS, and decreases the damage seen on an MRI. Rebif® decreases

the number of relapses and their severity, delays the progression of disability, and decreases the

number of new lesions seen on an MRI. Copaxone® suppresses the immune system’s attack

on myelin, and decreases the number of attacks and their severity. Tysabri® decreases swell-

ing, slows the progression of disability, and decreases the rate of relapse. Lastly, Novantrone®

impedes disease progression, and decreases the number of relapses.

Multiple sclerosis affects around 2.5 million people worldwide.

The cost of drugs used to treat Multiple Sclerosis can be over two-thirds of a patient’s total medical bill.

Studies show that people born in a geographic location with high incidence of MS and then move to a loca-

tion of low incidence before the age of 15 will have less risk associated with MS and their location.

If one parent has a MS, the risk that their children might acquire the condition is about 2 to 5 percent.

Fatigue, a symptom of MS occurs in as many as 78% of patients with MS.

Even when being diagnosed by experts, the diagnosis is only correct 90-95% of the time.

Some MS patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) which are un-

conventional medicine practices that are not normal medicines. These alternatives include ther-

apy, conventional medicine, and treatment that replaces the usual medicine. There are three

categories of CAM: “Health and well being”, “Stress”, and “Symptom Management”. The

category “Health and Well Being” include diet, exercise, herbs, vitamins, apitherapy, and hy-

perbaric oxygen. The category “Stress” includes massages, reflexology, meditation, guided im-

agery, biofeedback, tai chi, and yoga. The category “Symptom Management” includes ay-

urveda, acupuncture, homeopathy, and chiropractics.

Treating MS

Statistics

Alternative Treatments of MS

Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3

For More Information Please Contact the Following:

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

http://www.nccam.nih.gov/

Multiple Sclerosis Association of America

http://mymsaa.org/

(800)532-7667

Dr. Shields’ Health Class

Multiple Sclerosis

February 2013

By: Allison Wrenn