Multiple sclerosis treatment
Multiple sclerosis is a disorder affecting the body’s central nervous system that can lead to numerous physical and cognitive problems. Although several risk factors of multiple sclerosis have been uncovered, the cause of the disease remains unknown. Diagnosing multiple sclerosis can be extremely difficult, and there is no known cure for the disorder.
Although there is no cure, many people with multiple sclerosis go on to live nearly normal and productive lives. Most people with the disorder live nearly as long as people who are completely healthy. Ongoing therapy is crucial for treating multiple sclerosis, as is medical treatment during periods of acute neurological problems. It’s unknown whether any recently developed medications will slow or stop the progress of multiple sclerosis, but clinical researchers are constantly working on new types of treatments to enhance the lives of nearly 350,000 Americans who live with this disabling disorder.
Multiple sclerosis symptom relief
People with multiple sclerosis often experience short periods of worsening symptoms followed by periods of recover and remission. As MS patients grow older, the remission periods may grow smaller while the disease progression occurs more rapidly. During periods of acute attacks patients can receive intravenous drugs called corticosteroids. These powerful anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pressure from the central nervous system, allowing signals to move more freely through the brain, optical nerves and the spinal cord. These drugs bring faster ends to acute attacks, minimizing damage to the patient while also helping to make the patient more comfortable. There are some long-term side effects to corticosteroids such as weight gain and memory impairment.
In addition to administering medication for acute attacks, several new drugs are being used in hopes of slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis. Initial clinical studies have shown these drugs to be somewhat successful. However, more time is needed before any conclusions can be drawn about how these drugs may aid the recovery of multiple sclerosis patients.
Therapy for MS-induced problems
Until a cure is found for multiple sclerosis, patients must cope with the fact that they’ll experience lifelong problems as the result of their conditions. Some of these problems are mild, such as fatigue, blurred vision and tingling sensations in different parts of the body. Other problems caused by multiple sclerosis are more severe. Some people experience sudden paralysis, muscle weakness or difficulty understanding even simple instructions. These problems not only create physical obstacles, but emotional obstacles to overcome as well.
Various types of therapy are available for people who experience problems from multiple sclerosis. Vocational therapists can help people find jobs, allowing them to earn money and be productive. Psychologists can help patients cope with any fears they have regarding their conditions. Speech therapists can help people regain lost communication skills, and physical therapists can strengthen people’s bodies to help them cope with the loss of balance or muscular weakness. People who have multiple sclerosis all experience the disease differently, so it’s important to tailor each patient’s therapy to address his or her most pressing needs.
