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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord. While there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis, there are treatments available to help manage the condition.
It occurs when your immune system attacks a substance called myelin, a protective sheath that covers your nerve fibres, subsequently disrupting communication between your brain and the rest of your body.
There is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis, but several treatments are available to manage the condition.
Call or book online today to arrange a consultation to discuss private MS treatment with a consultant of your choice at Circle Health Group.
This page explains what multiple sclerosis is, looks at the symptoms and causes of multiple sclerosis and what treatments are available.
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Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, or RRMS, is the most common type of MS in the early stages of the disease. It involves periods of your symptoms getting worse, known as flare-ups or relapses, followed by periods of remission, where your symptoms get better. RRMS often develops into secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) over time.
In secondary progressions multiple sclerosis (SPMS), damage to your nerves builds up and your symptoms get gradually worse. Periods of remission may stop or become less frequent.
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) is a less common type of MS, where your symptoms get gradually worse over time without any clear relapses or periods of remission.
The symptoms of MS vary from person to person, and everyone experiences the condition differently. Symptoms may come and go, but often get worse over time.
Common symptoms of MS include:
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells.
In the case of MS, your immune system attacks a fatty substance called myelin that coats and protects the nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. Destruction of myelin is a process known as demyelination.
Demyelination means that messages can't pass as easily between your nerve cells, causing symptoms of MS.
Anyone can get MS, but you may have a higher risk if you:
Your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, general health, medical and family history and any medication you take regularly. They'll then perform a physical examination including assessing your movement, coordination, balance, reflexes and vision.
There is no definitive test to diagnose multiple sclerosis. If your consultant suspects that you may have MS, they may order tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.
These may include:
Since there is no specific test for MS, your consultant will make what is known as a differential diagnosis using a combination of your symptoms, physical examination and the results of any tests or scans.
At Circle Health Group, your first appointment is very important as it's where you meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care.
Your consultant will spend time getting to know you, including asking about how your symptoms affect your day-to-day life, mental health and relationships. They will also discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have about your condition and treatment options.
It is important to us that you are as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your MS treatment, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.
At the end of your appointment, your consultant will explain your treatment options and work with you to create an individualised treatment plan that is best suited to your needs.
While there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis, a range of treatments are available that can help relieve your symptoms, speed up your recovery from relapses and slow the progression of the disease.
Your consultant will recommend a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs based on your symptoms and the type of MS you have. Your treatment plan will likely change over time.
Medications for multiple sclerosis are aimed at managing symptoms, treating relapses, and slowing the progression of the disease.
Medications for MS may include:
Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), or disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) are drugs used to treat people with relapsing-remitting MS, although there are some that are used by people with progressive MS.
There are various types of DMTs available for use in the UK, with each DMT option coming with their own set of benefits and risks. Before prescribing DMTs, your consultant will discuss the potential side effects with you and weigh up the risks and benefits of each medication before writing a prescription.
Depending on the disease-modifying drug prescribed, you can take DMDs in the form of tablets, injections, or IV infusion, where the medication is delivered directly to your vein through a drip.
As well as managing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, early treatment with DMT can help reduce the number of relapses you have and slow the progression of the disease.
Otherwise known as corticosteroids, steroids work by suppressing your immune system to reduce inflammation and swelling, helping your nerves work better as a result.
You may be given steroids during a relapse to reduce your symptoms and speed up your recovery. Steroids can also slow down damage to the myelin sheath that covers and protects your nerve cells.
Plasma exchange is a procedure where your plasma – the liquid part of your blood – is removed and separated from your blood cells and mixed with plasma from a donor or a protein solution (albumin) before being put back into your body.
If you have MS, the proteins attacking your body tissue are present in blood plasma, so removing these proteins can help stop a relapse and improve your symptoms.
Plasma exchange may be recommended if your symptoms are new, severe and haven't improved with steroid medications.
Depending on your symptoms, your consultant may prescribe other medications such as:
HSCT is a relatively new treatment for MS that uses intense chemotherapy to wipe out harmful cells and “reboot” your immune system using stem cells from your bone marrow.
Depending on your symptoms, supportive therapies can help with mobility, and speech problems and help you cope with the psychological impact of having MS.
Supportive therapies include:
In addition to the above treatments, adopting a healthy lifestyle can improve your overall health and quality of life and may reduce relapses and slow the progression of MS.
To ensure you are as healthy as possible:
Some people experience mild symptoms while others have symptoms that significantly impact their life and make it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities without help.
Remember that help is available and reach out for support from loved ones and health professionals when needed. Although there is no cure for MS, modern treatments are effective in managing symptoms, reducing relapses, and slowing the progression of the disease.
There are also many emerging treatments on the horizon and people with MS are living longer, more fulfilling lives than ever before.
If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about multiple sclerosis treatment, book your appointment online or call a member of our team today.