MSAA Ultimate MS Treatment Guide
Here are Dr. Hendin’s educational Q&A columns from the Multiple Sclerosis Society Association of America’s publication, The Motivator.
I am newly diagnosed. Should I begin with a moderate or higher efficacy medication?
Q: My MS is 24/7, and I experience problems with my legs, my hands, foot drop, balance, pain – you name it… every flare is always a bad flare. In looking at my paperwork from my doctor, it always says relapsing-remitting MS with “progressive features.” I’m confused. Isn’t this primary-progressive MS?
Q: I suffer from achalasia, similar to dysphagia. I have difficulty swallowing and have to have my throat stretched once a year during an endoscopy. I wanted to ask if you have any specific recommendations for people with this problem.
Q: I’m in my twenties and was recently diagnosed with MS, although I’ve been having symptoms for years. At least by getting this diagnosis, I was relieved to know there was a reason for my many problems, including dizziness, weakness, and being constantly tired. In addition to treating my symptoms, my doctor mentioned long-term treatments, but I have no idea what the best options are, or if I should even go on this type of medication.
Q: What is neurofilament light chain (NfL) technology? And how does it benefit someone with MS?
Q: Do you feel that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for someone who has had MS for many years?
Q: What is COVID-19 and how might I be affected because of my MS?
Q: I was diagnosed with MS at 68 and am now 73. I have been having symptoms since my early 20s, but no one diagnosed it previously. I am told I have “inactive MS,” aka, benign MS. Doctors have taken a wait-and-see stance so far. I have developed optic neuropathy and have lost part of my sight in my right eye in the form of a grey spot. I am told the nerve cells have died and my peripheral eyesight will not return. My question is, at which point should I be taking medication? I am being treated by my primary doctor and I am not on any medication at this time.
Q: Are the COVID vaccines safe for someone with MS, particularly for my type, relapsing-remitting MS? Could the vaccine cause a relapse or pseudo-relapse? Also, is one brand of vaccine safer or better than another for people with MS – and is getting the one-time vaccine an advantage over the ones that require two separate injections?
Q: There is a lot of talk about antibodies for COVID-19 after a person has already contracted the coronavirus. I’ve heard that the COVID-19 antibodies don’t stay in the body indefinitely. Why then do the JC virus antibodies stay with us indefinitely once we have them? Also, do the coronavirus and JC virus interact?
Q: A friend of mine says that she has a less-common form of MS called neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or Devic’s disease. When I searched online for more information, I saw that NMO is not MS, but is often misdiagnosed as MS. Could you please tell me if this is true, and if so, what are the symptoms of NMO and how does it differ from MS?
MSAA Ultimate MS Treatment Guide
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