Frequently Asked Questions About Multiple Sclerosis
Frequently Asked Questions About Multiple Sclerosis
Most people who have MS usually get around without help. But there may be a time when you'll need to use a cane or a walker to make it easier. About 25% of people with the condition eventually need a wheelchair.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the different medications and therapies that can help people with MS.
The first step is to learn about your treatment options and talk about them with your doctor. Think about how well the treatment is supposed to work, any possible side effects, how you’ll take the therapy, and how it fits with your lifestyle.
Your doctor is a good source for information about the different types of treatments. He also can recommend MS support groups and other professionals who can help you.
The main goal of deep brain stimulation for MS is to ease tremors, or shaking you can’t control. It won’t help with other problems, such as loss of vision, feeling, or strength.
A positive attitude can lower your stress and help you feel better.
Exercise techniques like tai chi and yoga can relax you and give you more energy, balance, and flexibility. Always check with your doctor before you start a new fitness routine. Don’t exercise so hard that you feel exhausted.
It’s always a good idea to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, too. Ask your doctor what foods are right for you.
It's the inflammation of the nerve that connects your eye to your brain. It can cause:
If you notice any of these symptoms, tell your doctor right away. The key to protecting your eyesight is to catch the problem early. Your doctor can treat you with steroids to fight the inflammation in the nerve.
Optic neuritis usually happens to one eye at a time, though it can affect both at once. It’s often the first symptom that someone has MS. About half of people with the condition will have optic neuritis at least once.
But it can happen to people who have other health problems, too, so it doesn't automatically mean that someone has or will get MS.
Most people with optic neuritis recover fully, sometimes without any treatment.
In this article
- 1. What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
- 2. What Causes Multiple Sclerosis?
- 3. What Are the Symptoms?
- 4. Can You Catch Multiple Sclerosis From Someone Else? Can You Die From It?
- 5. Is There a Cure?
- 6. Am I Going to Need a Wheelchair?
- 7. Which Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Is Best for Me?
- 8. How Does Deep Brain Stimulation Help?
- 9. What Else Can Help Me?
- 10. What Is Optic Neuritis?
6. Am I Going to Need a Wheelchair?
Most people who have MS usually get around without help. But there may be a time when you'll need to use a cane or a walker to make it easier. About 25% of people with the condition eventually need a wheelchair.
7. Which Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Is Best for Me?
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the different medications and therapies that can help people with MS.
The first step is to learn about your treatment options and talk about them with your doctor. Think about how well the treatment is supposed to work, any possible side effects, how you’ll take the therapy, and how it fits with your lifestyle.
Your doctor is a good source for information about the different types of treatments. He also can recommend MS support groups and other professionals who can help you.
8. How Does Deep Brain Stimulation Help?
The main goal of deep brain stimulation for MS is to ease tremors, or shaking you can’t control. It won’t help with other problems, such as loss of vision, feeling, or strength.
9. What Else Can Help Me?
A positive attitude can lower your stress and help you feel better.
Exercise techniques like tai chi and yoga can relax you and give you more energy, balance, and flexibility. Always check with your doctor before you start a new fitness routine. Don’t exercise so hard that you feel exhausted.
It’s always a good idea to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, too. Ask your doctor what foods are right for you.
10. What Is Optic Neuritis?
It's the inflammation of the nerve that connects your eye to your brain. It can cause:
If you notice any of these symptoms, tell your doctor right away. The key to protecting your eyesight is to catch the problem early. Your doctor can treat you with steroids to fight the inflammation in the nerve.
Optic neuritis usually happens to one eye at a time, though it can affect both at once. It’s often the first symptom that someone has MS. About half of people with the condition will have optic neuritis at least once.
But it can happen to people who have other health problems, too, so it doesn't automatically mean that someone has or will get MS.
Most people with optic neuritis recover fully, sometimes without any treatment.
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