What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most debilitating autoimmune diseases known to man. As your body’s immune system goes into hyperdrive trying to defend against foreign invaders, your body will begin to attack healthy nerve fibers and myelin sheathing. Although the causes of MS are unknown, the disease’s effects on the brain and spinal cord can result in a variety of symptoms and impairments.
Common Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis Include:
- Muscle spasms
- Stiffness and weakness
- Trouble controlling the bladder and bowel
- Fatigue
- Vision problems
- Loss of mobility and incoordination
- Pain
- Cognitive decline
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing.
- Paralysis
- Epilepsy
Severe complications such as paralysis and epilepsy in MS patients are becoming rare as treatments for MS have greatly improved within the last decade. However, treatment courses will vary depending on the type of MS that you are diagnosed with.
How is Multiple Sclerosis Treated?
Common treatments for MS are focused on reducing pain and limiting disability progression. Corticosteroids are typically used to reduce the inflammation that is caused by MS, and plasma exchange can be utilized as well if you are not responding to traditional steroids.
There are also a variety of oral medications that are prescribed to prevent relapses in MS symptoms and halt disability progression. These medications include:
- Gilenya
- Tecfidera
- Vumerity
- Aubagio
- Mayzent
- Mavenclad
However, if you are not responding to these treatments, your medical provider may recommend a biological infusion. Biological infusions can be more effective in treating MS as they are IV drugs that bypass the digestive system, allowing them to retain their potency when entering the bloodstream. Biological infusions for MS have been shown to reduce relapse and at times even improve disability progression in patients.
