When The Diagnosis Is Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often disabling disease of the nervous system, affecting about 1 million people worldwide. Even though it has been known for over a hundred years, no cause or cure has yet been discovered-but now there is hope. New therapies have been shown to slow the disease progress in some patients, and the pace of discoveries about the cellular machinery of the brain and spinal cord has accelerated. This book presents a comprehensive overview of multiple sclerosis today, as researchers seek to understand its processes, develop therapies that will slow or halt the disease and perhaps repair damage, offer relief for specific symptoms, and improve the abilities of MS patients to function in their daily lives. The panel reviews existing knowledge and identifies key research questions, focusing on: Research strategies that have the greatest potential to understand the biological mechanisms of recovery and to translate findings into specific strategies for therapy. How people adapt to MS and the research needed to improve the lives of people with MS. Management of disease symptoms (cognitive impairment, depression, spasticity, vision problems, and others). The committee also discusses ways to build and financially support the MS research enterprise, including a look at challenges inherent in designing clinical trials. This book will be important to MS researchers, research funders, health care advocates for MS research and treatment, and interested patients and their families.

Multiple Sclerosis: The History of a Disease won a 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Silver Medal! The basic facts about multiple sclerosis are well known: it is the most common neurologic disease of young adults, usually beginning with episodic attacks of neurologic symptoms, then entering a progressive phase some years later. Its onset has an average age of 30, and occurs in about 1 in 500 individuals of European ancestry living primarily in temperate climates. There appears to be a complex interaction between a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger that initiates the disease. But these facts do not convey the impact of the disease on the people whose lives it affects. In this elegantly written and comprehensive history, we meet individuals who suffered with MS in the centuries before the disease had a name, including blessed Lidwina of Holland, who took joy from her misery, believing that she was sent to accept suffering for the sins of others; Augustus d'Est, grandson of George III and cousin of Queen Victoria, whose case shows how someone with access to the best of medical care of the age was understood and managed; and Heinrich Heine, the great German poet, who also had access to all medical services that were available, but who progressed into his mattress grave in two decades, aware of the loss of physical ability while still able to compose great poetry to the end. From these early cases the author demonstrates how progress in diagnosing and managing multiple sclerosis has paralleled the development of medical science, from the early developments in modern studies of anatomy and pathology, to the framing of the disease in the nineteenth century, and eventually to modern diagnosis and treatment. From beginning to end, Dr. Murray takes us on a fascinating journey of discovery, in the process showing how the evolution of our understanding of multiple sclerosis has been part of the greater history of medical knowledge.

Kym Orsetti Furney was a 34-year-old physician, specializing in Internal Medicine, busy with her exciting job and enjoying life with her husband and young daughter in 2000, when she suddenly began to experience dizziness repeatedly, which rapidly led to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Her world was rocked for a time, but Furney has recovered from the shock and - empowered by information, acceptance and support - continues working as a doctor, teaching and taking care of her family, despite the challenges of MS. For all people dealing with a personal or family diagnosis now, she offers help, hope and insights by explaining all the medical perspectives, but also reflecting on her own personal experiences after diagnosis. Never forgetting the fear and hopelessness she felt at the time she learned of her own MS, she discusses the many challenges, from depression and overcoming fear of injection medications, to how and when to tell others about having MS and understanding the impact MS may have on one's career. Readers will find a strong connection with this talented physician and the thoughts and emotions that she has had facing MS. Furney's well-researched and compassionate writing will not only empower people newly diagnosed with MS, but will give family members insight into the physical and emotional challenges for their loved one, challenges that she or he may not immediately be able to voice. This work also offers invaluable insights for healthcare professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, physical and occupational therapists.

Although new immunomodulating treatments have made dramatic inroads into lessening the impact of multiple sclerosis, no cure is yet in sight. Most patients will progress, and dealing with their many complex symptoms and issues requires many levels of medical and rehabilitative care. This important book focuses on symptom control and clinical management using these innovative therapies and is packed with practical, easy-to-access information. Highlights of this outstanding clinical tool: Detailed coverage of individual symptoms and corresponding management techniques. Discussion of the newest immunomodulating therapies -- combining the most recent data with the authors' actual clinical experience. Inclusion of easy-to-follow algorithms for clear, strategic decision-making. Coverage of rehabilitation issues, including safety and quality of life. Valuable chapters on integrating MS patients into their communities. Take advantage of the most up-to-date information in a rapidly changing field, covering complex medical and rehabilitative issues in a clear, straightforward format. Order today for the newest management strategies in multiple sclerosis.

A handy, practical, and management-oriented neurology sourcebook – delivering everything you need in one easy-to-carry volume CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment Neurology, 2e provides busy clinicians with practical, up-to-date strategies for assessing and managing the most frequently seen neurologic conditions in adults and children. Features Consistent presentation includes Essentials of Diagnosis, Symptoms and Signs, Diagnostic Studies, Differential Diagonsis, Treatment, and Prognosis Coverage of disorders in both adults and children Practical information on common conditions such as headaches, movement disorders, and central nervous system infections Expert help with ischemicand hemorrhagic stroke, epilepsy, sleeping disorders, dizziness, hearing loss, dementia and memory loss, psychiatric problems, and more Thorough coverage of diagnostic tests More than 100 informative photos and illustrations Updated with the latest findings and developments This second edition will be valuable to anyone who sees patients with neurologic complaints, whether in primary care or the neurology clinic.

This book has been written for those newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It is a guide to learning about the disease, its potential impact on your life, and the medical treatments now available for managing it successfully. This is a time of great excitement in research and advances in clinical management, such that most people who have multiple sclerosis can lead full and productive lives. This fourth edition is current and updated throughout, and includes a review of the controversy surrounding CCVSI and multiple sclerosis, discussion of the new pill Gelenya and other drugs in development for multiple sclerosis, new information on the drug Tysabri, and discussion of treatments and complementary and alternative medicine in MS. This the place to begin your education about MS.

Multiple Sclerosis: a complex disease requiring sophisticated management Multiple Sclerosis poses labyrinthine challenges. There is no blood test to rely on for diagnosis; clinical acumen is essential. Yet an effective diagnosis only takes you part of the way: treatment offers further enigmas. The MS treatment landscape is complicated, and will become even more so with time. Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Therapy is the map you need to navigate this maze. Written and edited by leaders in the field, it guides you towards effective and positive choices for your patients. The diagnosis section provides state-of-the-art thinking about pathogenesis. With clear coverage of biomarkers, genetics, and imaging, it presents a coherent framework for making the correct diagnosis. The management section comprehensively covers current and future treatments to steer you through the many options for • Symptom management • Cognitive dysfunction • Depression and other mental health issues ‘Top Tips’ throughout provide the practical guidance you need for the best management of your patients. Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Therapy should be on the bookshelf of anyone who treats patients with multiple sclerosis.

Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn’t have to mean your life is over. Everyone’s MS is different and no one can predict exactly what yours will be like. The fact is, lots of people live their lives with MS without making a full-time job of it. MS for Dummies gives you easy to access, easy to understand information about what happens with MS—what kinds of symptoms it can cause, how it can affect your life at home and at work, what you can do to feel and function up to snuff, and how you can protect yourself and your family against the long-term unpredictability of the disease. You'll learn: Why some people get MS and others don’t How to make treatment and lifestyle choices that work for you What qualities to look for in a neurologist and in the rest of your healthcare team How to manage fatigue, walking problems, and visual changes Why the road to diagnosis can be full of twists and turns How to understand the pros and cons of alternative medicine Why and how to talk to your kids about MS How to find stress management strategies that work for you Your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act Complete with listings of valuable resources such as other books, Web sites, and community agencies and organizations that you can tap for information or assistance, MS for Dummies will tell you everything you need to know in order to make educated choices and comfortable decisions about life with MS.

The most trusted book on multiple sclerosis, updated and revised with the latest research in combating the disease Once known as the "crippler of young adults," now more than 75 percent of MS patients will never need a wheelchair. In Multiple Sclerosis, Dr. Louis J. Rosner and Shelley Ross explain that there genuinely is new hope, more than ever before, both for controlling the disease today and curing it tomorrow. Updated with the latest research and terminology, this revised edition gets to the bottom of every treatment option from the tried-and-true to today's cutting-edge and experimental therapies. Its trusted advice covers every step of living with MS, what you need to know, and what you need to ask. Dr. Louis Rosner and Shelley Ross explain what the disease is, who gets it and why, and what people with MS can do to continue living happy and healthy lives. Whether you or your loved one has just been diagnosed with MS or has lived with it for a while, Multiple Sclerosis gives you the information you need to live well with the disease, including: • The diagnosis: how to understand and identify MS as early as possible • The varying symptoms and courses of the disease: how to recognize and treat them • The emotional struggles that come with MS: where to turn for support • The most current medical research and therapies available to MS patients: how to know if they are right for you For decades, this trusted handbook has helped those with MS and their families and friends to treat and understand their disease. Research brings us closer to a cure every day, but until that day comes, patients have, in this book, the very best tool for beating MS -- the facts.