MS...i need some help?

Question

my step mother was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis(spelling?) i need as much information as i can get. what can we expect? what can she do to help herself? just any information, or if anyone would like to chat with me or her about it we would really appreciate it. she is so lost, and she seems to get worse everyday. please help anyway possible

Answer 1

For People Newly Diagnosed

If you or someone close to you has recently been given a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. Or, you may be feeling so overwhelmed by the diagnosis that you aren’t sure what kinds of questions to ask. The National MS Society has developed programs to give you the information and support you need to live comfortably and confidently with this change in your life.

Here's an EXCELLENT website for answering the many questions you may have:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/



What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves. Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibers of the CNS is a fatty tissue called myelin, which helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses.


In MS, myelin is lost in multiple areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis. These damaged areas are also known as plaques or lesions. Sometimes the nerve fiber itself is damaged or broken.


Myelin not only protects nerve fibers, but makes their job possible. When myelin or the nerve fiber is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted, and this produces the various symptoms of MS.




People with MS can expect one of four clinical courses of disease, each of which might be mild, moderate, or severe.


MS is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system.

MS is not contagious and is not directly inherited.

Most people with MS have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.

The majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled.

There is no cure for MS yet, but drugs can help slow the course and/or symptoms in some patients.


The above is from the brochure Just the Facts: 2005-2006.




Relapsing-Remitting
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience clearly defined flare-ups (also called relapses, attacks, or exacerbations). These are episodes of acute worsening of neurologic function. They are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions) free of disease progression.
Frequency: Most common form of MS at time of initial diagnosis. Approximately 85%.
Primary-Progressive
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a slow but nearly continuous worsening of their disease from the onset, with no distinct relapses or remissions. However, there are variations in rates of progression over time, occasional plateaus, and temporary minor improvements.
Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 10%.

Secondary-Progressive
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience an initial period of relapsing-remitting disease, followed by a steadily worsening disease course with or without occasional flare-ups, minor recoveries (remissions), or plateaus.
Frequency: 50% of people with relapsing-remitting MS developed this form of the disease within 10 years of their initial diagnosis, before introduction of the “disease-modifying” drugs. Long-term data are not yet available to demonstrate if this is significantly delayed by treatment.
Progressive-Relapsing
Characteristics: People with this type of MS experience a steadily worsening disease from the onset but also have clear acute relapses (attacks or exacerbations), with or without recovery. In contrast to relapsing-remitting MS, the periods between relapses are characterized by continuing disease progression.
Frequency: Relatively rare. Approximately 5%.

Answer 2

First off there are 4 types of MS
Primary Progressive
Secondary Progressive
Relapsing Remitting
And the type that only occurs once in a lifetime.

The most common is Relapsing remitting
There are drugs out there to help treat MS currently... you need a doctor's help to obtain these drugs. There are different regiments based on the type of MS she has, so I won't be telling you which one to use, as I am not her doctor.

This is the most common demyelinating disease. Basically that means that the myelin which helps conduct our nervous system goes away.

Usually diagnosed by Lumbar puncture with Oligoclonal bands of IgG, and an MRI showing multiple lesions over space and time, MS occurs with an Optic neuritis frequently.

The goal is to try to slow the process down with medication. Strengthen your mom as much as possible while she still has a mild case... because if she has progressive you may not have much time.

Answer 3

My wife has had MS for 17 years. We've been married for 11 of those years. I used to be bothered some when I would call from work and she would have all her energy and be doing this or that. By the time I got home, her energy was gone and I could not spend any quality time with her. She would also have a flare up every summer that would cause her problems. She was looking at the different drugs available and decided to go "alternative" first. No side effects that way. We bought things to make our home a wellness home. It was one of the best things she ever did. She now has more energy than she used to, not jumping off roofs or anything but, still more energy. We can even do things after work! The best thing is she has not had one flare up in the 4 years we've had them.

Answer 4

my mother was diagnosed in 2005 after years and years of symptoms....literally decades of dizziness, seizure disorder, etc...finally with the help of an MRI she was diagnosed and the doctors were shocked because she never really complained; she held it all in or thought she was just nervous and dizzy....check out www.msworld.com I think that is the website or search for Multiple Sclerosis Society

Answer 5

I also have MS and the best treatment for MS is LDN, hands down. It is the only medication that can stop MS in its tracks! No other medication can do that. It is very cheap, has almost no side effects, it is easy to take since it comes in a capsule and although it does not cure MS it prevents further progression. Please check it out! Tens of thousands of people are taking it worldwide and the number is growing every day!

Answer 6

Although I don't have much knowledge of this condition, I know that if you check out the yahoo health section and look it up will be really helpful to both you and your step mother. It goes into detail in everyway.

Answer 7

It is a bad disease but with understanding, can be handled for some time. A co-worker friend of mine learned she had it a year ago and things are ok still for her. I hope the links I've provided helps.

Answer 8

if she was diagnosed with it there is no way you can get rid of it and I am truly sorry for that. but there is a way you can encourage her that's by telling her how much you love her , care for her as much as you can. You also should stop feeling sorry for her and yourself and treat her as though she was never diagnosed.I REALLY HOPE I HELPED WITH YOUR SITUATION!

Answer 9

Here's some links that will greatly assist you ,your family and your mother. One of my best friends was recently diagnosed as well and these helped him tremendously.
Hope they help you as well.

https://www.mspathways.com/connected/index.jsp
http://www.msalliance.com/aboutMS/index.asp?m=1&f=4&s=2&t=0&c=52
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/MAM/event/event_detail.asp?e=8416
http://groups.msn.com/MSTogetherness
http://www.msnusers.com/MarjeesMSSupportGroup/disabilityassistance.msnw
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/spotlight-selfhelp.asp
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mscured/
http://www.msif.org/en/

Answer 10

first sign will be facial pain called trigeminal neuralgia......then there will be retrobulbar neuritis...motor disturbance.....vertigo will also b the main feature....many treatment ar available...one of the recent one is hyper baric oxyen therapy.......anti viral and so on