MS Active Source

MS The Disease

• Introduction
• History of MS
• What is MS?
• Who gets MS?
• Symptoms of MS
• Course of the disease
• Diagnosis
• Treatment of MS

Treatment of MS

If you are diagnosed with MS, your neurologist will discuss the available treatment options with you. There are two main types of treatment:

• treatment to relieve symptoms of an attack.
• treatment to slow progression of MS.

While there are no cures for MS, these treatments help patients live with the disease.

As discussed further in the Treatment section of this website, intravenous corticosteroids can be given to help relieve symptoms of attack. Other options are also available to treat specific symptoms. However, these treatments have no effect on the overall course of MS and are only taken during an attack.

In contrast, disease-modifying therapies (DMT) have been shown to slow the progression of disease for patients with relapsing-remitting MS. These agents are taken continuously from diagnosis and can be taken for as long as the patient appears to be benefiting. Since they aim to influence the overall course of the disease, it is important that patients continue to take these therapies even if they are in remission. The available DMTs are: interferon-beta (IFN-beta), glatiramer acetate, which are self administered and natalizumab, given by intravenous infusion as described in the Treatment section of this website.

A number of specialist health professionals can also assist the patient in living with MS. These include:

• MS Nurse specialist who can provide information, support and timely advice and help patients towards self-management.
• Ophthalmologist who can assist with eye problems such as blurred vision.
• Urologist who can help with bladder problems and sexual difficulties in men.
• Gynaecologist who can help with sexual difficulties in women.
• Physiotherapist who can assist with exercises to improve day-to-day functioning.
• Speech therapist.
• Occupational therapist who can advise on mobility problems both at home and at work.
• Psychologist.
  

Further information on treatment can be found on the following websites: MS Society and the MS Trust. In addition, guidelines on the management of MS have been drawn up by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) (ref m23) and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) (ref m22) which are available online.

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