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10 Things New MS Patients Should Know

Recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? These 10 tips can help you prepare

for MS symptoms, treatment, and more.

By Jan Sheehan

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

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A multiple sclerosis diagnosis can be frightening and overwhelming, and while

you may feel very much alone, you are not.

Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disease in young adults,

usually striking between 20 and 40 years of age. Approximately 400,000 people in

the United States and 2.1 million people worldwide have MS — and there's one new

U.S. diagnosis of MS every hour, according to the National MS Society. The

positive news: MS symptoms can usually be successfully managed.

" Having MS today is much different from what it was in the past because we now

have a number of new and promising treatments that do a good job at controlling

symptoms, " says Sheremata, MD, a professor of clinical neurology and

director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Miami in Florida.

Ways to Cope With Your Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

If you're newly diagnosed with MS, these tips can help you deal with the

disease.

1. Learn as much as possible about MS.

There are many myths and misconceptions about MS, and without the facts, your

multiple sclerosis diagnosis can be scarier than it should be. MS is a chronic

autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. It's caused when the

immune system attacks the myelin, the protective insulation covering nerve

fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars

of hardened tissue (lesions), and some underlying nerves are damaged. But MS is

almost never fatal, and many people diagnosed with the disease never need a

wheelchair. Your doctor can provide you with the latest facts about MS and what

your prognosis may be. The National MS Society and the American Academy of

Neurology are also reliable sources.

2. Be sure your multiple sclerosis diagnosis is definitive.

MS is not an easy disease to diagnosis, so getting a definitive multiple

sclerosis diagnosis can be a waiting game. Various tests may be used to make a

diagnosis, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), evoked potentials (EP),

and spinal fluid analysis (spinal tap), as well as a neurological exam.

According to the latest criteria, your physician must do all of the following in

order to make a multiple sclerosis diagnosis:

•Find evidence of damage in two separate areas of the central nervous system

•Find evidence that the damage occurred at least one month apart

•Rule out all other possible diseases and diagnoses

For many people, getting a definitive multiple sclerosis diagnosis is actually a

relief — they now have a name for unexplained symptoms.

3. Understand that MS symptoms are unpredictable.

No two people have exactly the same MS symptoms, and you may have different

symptoms from time to time. MS symptoms can include numbness, blurred vision,

loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, extreme fatigue,

problems with memory, bladder dysfunction, paralysis, blindness, and more. But

these symptoms are unpredictable. " Over the course of the disease, some MS

symptoms will come and go, while others may be long lasting, " says Dr.

Sheremata. " It will be different for each MS patient. "

4. Don't delay multiple sclerosis treatment.

At this time, the goal of multiple sclerosis treatment is to control symptoms

and improve the patient's quality of life. After receiving a multiple sclerosis

diagnosis, it's important to start multiple sclerosis treatment as soon as

possible. There are now a number of FDA-approved medications that have been

shown to " modify " or slow down the progression of MS and lessen the frequency

and severity of MS attacks. " The disease is more likely to progress and possibly

lead to disability if you don't begin treatment early in the disease, " says

Sheremata.

5. Track your MS symptoms.

Keeping a record of your MS symptoms and how you are feeling will help your

doctor determine how the disease is progressing and whether the medications you

are taking are working. This will also help your doctor recognize a relapse,

which is a characterized by a worsening of previous symptoms or the appearance

of a new symptom that lasts more than 24 hours. If you think you're having MS

symptoms, write them down in a log. Include when the symptoms happened, details

of what they felt like, and how long they lasted.

6. Avoid these MS episode triggers.

Extreme fatigue is a common indicator of an impending relapse, which can last

for days, weeks, or months. But certain triggers are thought to bring on

relapses or make them worse. Stress, smoking, fever, hot baths, and sun exposure

are believed to contribute to the worsening of MS symptoms and relapses.

Additionally, drinking alcohol in excess is discouraged for people with multiple

sclerosis because intoxication causes poor coordination and slurred speech,

which can worsen or add to existing MS symptoms.

7. Find the right doctor for you.

MS is a lifelong disease, so it's important to be under the care of a MS

specialist who is a good match for you. The neurologist who provides your

initial multiple sclerosis diagnosis may not be the specialist you want to stick

with for life. Your local chapter of the National MS Society should have a

listing of nearby neurologists specializing in MS. Support groups for MS

patients (available through hospitals and the National MS Society) are also

helpful for getting doctor referrals.

8. Consider complementary and alternative medicine.

In addition to taking medication to control your MS symptoms, you may want to

consider complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as biofeedback,

acupuncture, guided imagery, meditation, massage, tai chi, yoga, and dietary

supplements. More than 30 percent of people with MS turn to complementary forms

of medicine to relieve symptoms, according to a recent review of studies

published in the journal Occupational Therapy International. These natural

therapies were most used by MS patients for relief of pain, fatigue, and stress.

9. Think first about who you will tell about your MS.

Announcing to your employer that you have multiple sclerosis could have an

effect on your job security, employment options, and career path. Before

disclosing the disease at your workplace, learn about your rights under the

Americans with Disabilities Act. Of course, you'll want to tell your closest

family members and friends, particularly those who know you well enough to

notice that something is wrong. But you are not obligated to share news of your

multiple sclerosis diagnosis with everyone in your life. Instead, pick the

people who will be most supportive and helpful as you begin to cope with the

disease.

10. Don't give up hope.

Although there is currently no cure for MS, new treatments and advances in

research may better relieve symptoms and even eliminate the disease in the

future. Because MS strikes so many people in the prime of life, scientists are

racing to find a cure, and a number of new multiple sclerosis treatments are

currently under investigation. This research is giving new hope to people

affected by MS.

Last Updated: 09/16/2011