Archives  On the Move With MS
This issue of Making Strides is all about being physically active with MS. A diagnosis of MS need not require a prescription to become sedentary. In fact, engaging in a regular exercise program can have a positive effect on symptoms and quality of life. And who, one can ask, does not benefit from taking a vacation to escape life’s daily pressures? With planning and preparation, you can engage in fun and healthy activities safely. Read on for more.
Special Edition: Your MS Questions and Answers
With a disease as unpredictable as multiple sclerosis (MS), it is no surprise that those living with MS often have many questions. Whether you have just received a diagnosis of MS or you have been managing MS for years, you may wonder about the cause of MS, treatments available to manage it, and its effects on relationships and work. This special edition of Making Strides will try to answer some of the questions many people have. Unlike previous issues, this issue is entirely Q&A. Not all questions may apply to your situation; if that is the case, pay attention to those questions that do, and simply ignore the rest. It’s a rule of thumb that should be applied to all sources of MS information you encounter. The answers provided have the potential to inform, reassure, and guide you as you continue to live and enjoy your life in spite of MS.
MS and the Web
For people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the Web can provide the information, support, and social connections that can help manage the daily challenges of living with the disease. The Web is not without its hazards, and people should be critical when searching for information related to MS. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss how the Web can be an effective and interactive search tool for people with MS. Included is a special tear-out page with a compilation of MS-related Web sites that may be of interest. A review of advanced imaging techniques used primarily in MS research is covered in this issue as well.
MS and Genetics
The underlying cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a mystery that has yet to be solved. Nevertheless, patients who have been diagnosed with MS wonder if their disease has a genetic basis and can, therefore, be passed down to other family members. While for the most part, patients with MS have no family history of the disease, genetic susceptibility to MS is greater in those who do have a family history. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss MS and genetics and the latest findings from MS genetic research. Other featured topics include information about the portability and rules of traveling with your MS medications and useful information for long-distance caregivers.
The History of MS
The characterization of multiple sclerosis (MS) as a disease in which the immune system destroys myelin and axons in the central nervous system is the cornerstone of all diagnostic and management strategies, but these basic facts about the disease were only clearly established within the past few decades. The history of MS is centuries old, however. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss the history of MS, including the development of existing therapies and the ongoing research to develop new treatments and to determine the cause of MS. Other featured topics include a review on heat-related pseudoattacks and tips on how to avoid them, answers to questions on how to get the most out of your doctor visits, and information for caregivers who have children with MS.
Neuronal Repair and Protection in MS
Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) play an important role in delaying the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) over time. Research continues, however, to elucidate the underlying cause(s) of the pathogenesis of MS. As a result of this research, new therapeutic strategies are emerging to repair and perhaps protect the nerves from further damage. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss the importance of neuronal protection and repair in MS. Other featured topics include a review of bladder and bowel dysfunction in patients with MS and the treatments available to manage the conditions, answers to questions on oral therapies that are currently being investigated to treat MS, and information for caregivers regarding their rights in the workplace.
Staying on Track With Your MS Therapy
Before disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) became available, multiple sclerosis (MS) was thought to be untreatable. DMTs make managing MS possible by reducing disease progression and limiting future disability. This progress can only be attained if people with MS are able to adhere to their DMTs for the long term. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living with MS, we discuss the importance of long-term adherence to DMTs. Other features in this issue include a review of research data on injection-site reactions, cost management in MS, answers to questions regarding complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), and ways for couples to cope with marital stress.
MS in Special Populations
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is not a discriminatory disease. Some symptoms and disease manifestations, however, are more prevalent within certain populations. In this issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living With MS, we discuss the relatively unique MS characteristics found within these populations. Other features of the issue include a discussion on spasticity, answers to questions about neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), and ways to help caregivers and their partners with MS maintain intimacy.
MS Drugs: An Overview of Potential Side Effects
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease with many yet-unanswered questions. That does not mean that there is nothing those affected by the disease have to be informed about. On the contrary, a lot of beneficial information is available, and keeping informed can be a powerful tool when living with MS. The Early Fall 2006 issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living With MS, provides you with articles that will keep you up-to-date on the information important to you.
MRI in Multiple Sclerosis
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a vital part of the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). That is why it is important for people living with MS to learn about MRI–how it is done, why it is performed, and what it shows. In this, the Spring 2006 issue of Making Strides: Perspectives on Living With MS, a basic review of MRI is provided. Other features of the issue include a discussion on depression, answers to questions readers have sent in, and ways to help caregivers deal with anger.
Making Room for MS
The first issue of 2006 continues to bring information that will be of most benefit to those living with multiple sclerosis (MS). We offer solutions to improving the home and workplace to accommodate some of the physical changes that MS brings about. We also explain some basic information on the new Medicare Part D program as well as the basics of clinical trials. Finally, we offer suggestions that may help explain MS to those who may often have the most difficulty in understanding MS—children.
Winter 2005
This issue of Making Strides addresses questions and suggestions posed by you, the audience. The cover story examines progressive forms of MS, and also explores methods of dealing with these forms of the disease, including treatment options and coping mechanisms. In "Managing Your Least Favorite Things," we revisit pain and fatigue, 2 of the most commonly requested topics by readers. "Thinking of You: The Caregiving Partner" offers ways to help the caregiver deal with the emotional changes that often occur in people with MS. Finally, a selection of your questions, including ones about exercise, diet, and clinical trials, are answered by the editors of Making Strides, experts who work within the MS community.
Fall 2005
The human body is composed of an intricate network of systems that work together to allow it to function at maximum efficiency. Of these, the immune system protects the body from invasion and infection by foreign pathogens. However, as is true in multiple sclerosis (MS), sometimes the body's natural defenses actually attack the body's own cells in a process called autoimmunity. The cover story of this edition of Making Strides examines the immune system at times when it functions normally and when it goes astray, particularly in MS. This issue also includes advice regarding the management of tremor and speech difficulties as well as a discussion of the effects of MS on men's health. Finally, this issue has a section for the caregiver, providing resources that may be helpful to someone looking for advice or support.
Spring 2005
The MS community has been forced to deal recently with a development on the treatment front that some would say is very discouraging: the drug Tysabri (natalizumab) was taken off the market because of an unforeseen adverse event. Although the drug’s use was suspended, it is important that people remain on some type of disease-modifying therapy. Our cover story provides information on the immunomodulatory treatments for MS that remain on the market, which also have proven safety records over the course of several years. The rest of this issue is packed with information, including details on the prevention of injection-site reactions and tips on managing them as well as a Q & A that focuses on women and MS.
Winter 2004
Continued research in MS is crucial to understanding the disease and finding new drug therapies to treat it. This issue of Making Strides keeps readers abreast of the latest information on disease-modifying therapies and reviews the drugs currently approved for treatment of RRMS. While fighting the fatigue associated with MS can seem like a losing battle, there are ways to manage it, and they are covered in this issue’s “Managing Your Least Favorite Things.” The fatigue people with MS experience, among other issues, is something that family members may not always understand. Rounding out the issue in the “Q & A” section are ways to help family members understand MS and its symptoms, as well as ways to get the support family members need to help everyone manage the effects the disease has on family dynamics.
Fall 2004
Relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms are unpredictable and can leave you fearful of another attack. This issue looks at the causes of relapses and what can be done to treat them and lessen their recurrence. Another concern, coping with pain, also gets a closer look in this issue. Tests that measure MS severity, thereby providing an overall view of your functional abilities, are discussed in the question-and-answer segment.
Summer 2004
This issue focuses on how to make the most of office visits with your doctor and on how to deal with an unpleasant symptom of MS: bowel problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, and incontinence. The question-and-answer section in this issue discusses neutralizing antibodies, a concept that is complicated but important for people with MS to understand.
Spring 2004
This issue focuses on how to best manage MS and its symptoms - through early treatment, continuing to take disease-modifying treatments as prescribed, and developing a support system - and how to deal with a common MS-related symptm: sexual dysfunctin. This issue also discusses the use of MRI scans to help diagnose MS and to help make treatment decisions.
Winter 2003
This issue focuses on how to deal with some of the difficulties associated with MS, including financial planning, continuing good MS care while traveling, and gait problems. The practical tips in this issue can help you better manage your MS.
Fall 2003
This issue focuses on topics that most people with MS need to understand: medical privacy rights, bladder problems, and self-injection. Find out who can access your medical record, what you can do about frequent urination, and how to overcome your fears about self-injection.
Summer 2003
This issue focuses on how to manage a challenging aspect of MS: telling others about your condition. Telling your family, friends, and employers about your MS can be anxiety-provoking, but it can also strengthen your support system. This issue also discusses how to deal with depression - a common problem among people with MS.
Spring 2003
This issue focuses on questions to consider when choosing treatment, including the effect of treatment on your home life, work life, hobbies, and exercise routine. It also discusses spasticity, or involuntary muscle stiffness, and how it can best be managed, and The West Wing, which received an award for its portrayal of MS in the workplace.
Fall 2002
This issue focuses on MS treatment: disease-modifying drugs, their safety, effectiveness, side effects, and dosing. It also describes optic neuritis and fatigue and how to manage these common and challenging symptoms.
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