Multiple sclerosis (also known as MS), is a disease that affects the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by a dysregulated immune system that attacks myelin in the body, the protective covering of nerve cells. The damage to myelin causes poor communication between the brain and the body, leading to temporary or permanent disability.
MS may cause problems with muscle control, vision, balance, sensations, and other bodily functions. The severity may vary from person to person - some patients may experience mild symptoms not necessitating treatment, while others may develop progressive disability affecting their ability to walk or even perform daily tasks.
Common Symptoms
Because MS is different for each person, it is difficult to pinpoint symptoms that are directly attributed to MS. Some symptoms of multiple sclerosis may include:
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Weakness
- Impaired coordination
- Numbness
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Pain in the face
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Bladder dysfunction
Types
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is the most common type of MS. Patients with RRMS experience alternating periods of symptoms “flaring up” and symptoms fading. This type of MS may continue for many years without accumulation of severe disability.
- Secondary progressive MS (SPMS) begins as RRMS, but some symptoms worsen over time and do not improve. This is due to ongoing damage to the central nervous system.
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS) is associated with increasing and irreversible neurological problems from the beginning. Patients commonly have muscle weakness, leg dragging, and stiffness with progression over time.
Diagnostics
Once you’re referred to our program, we will try to see you right away, sometimes within a week. We understand the urgency and importance of being able to ask the questions you have about your health, so our goal is to move quickly with diagnosing or ruling out MS. On your first visit to BMC, we’ll do everything we can to provide you with immediate answers before you leave. During your appointment, we will thoroughly review your medical records, listen to you as you to share your past medical history, assess your symptoms, and perform the following diagnostic tests:
- A neurological exam
- Imaging, such as brain and spinal cord MRIs
- Blood tests
- Spinal fluid tests if required
Treatment
For those patients diagnosed with MS, our team of experts will collaborate to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique symptoms and needs. In addition to the MS specialists at the Multiple Sclerosis Center, we’ll involve highly-skilled specialists across the hospital to make sure that all your needs are addressed. This includes working closely with physical therapists, neuropsychologists, ophthalmologists, pain management professions, urologists and other specialists as needed.
Our nurse coordinator, a key member of your care team, will help you to get answers to your questions about MS or your treatment—including medications. She can also help connect you to non-medical resources such as support services offered by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, because at BMC we know it takes more than medicine to help you stay healthy.
As a patient of the Multiple Sclerosis Center, you have access to multiple oral, self-injectable and intravenous (at our on-site infusion center) medications, which offers timely access to state-of-the-art therapies on a schedule that works for you.
There is currently no cure for MS, but there are important treatments that help with the following:
- Aborting a “flare-up” of symptoms related to MS
- Decreasing the frequency of future clinical “flare-ups”
- Slowing down central nervous system damage
- Managing MS symptoms to improve quality of life
Injectable Disease Modifying Treatments
- Betaseron/Extavia (interferon beta 1b)
- Avonex (interferon beta 1a)
- Rebif (interferon beta 1a)
- Plegridy (interferon beta 1a)
- Copaxone/ Glatopa (glatiramer acetate)
- Kesimpta (ofatumumab)
Oral Disease Modifying Treatments
- Gilenya (fingolimod)
- Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate)
- Vumerity (diroximel fumarate)
- Aubagio (teriflunomide)
- Mayzent (siponimod)
- Ponvory (ponesimod)
- Zeposia (ozanimod)
Infusion Disease Modifying Treatments
- Tysabri (natalizumab)
- Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)
- Injectable Treatments for Acute Relapses
- Intravenous methylprednisolone (Solumedrol)
Medications to Treat Symptoms
Many medications are available to treat pain, stiffness, muscle spasms caused by MS.
Patients also benefit from regular exercise, managing stress levels, and avoiding tobacco use.
Our Center
The Multiple Sclerosis Center at Boston Medical Center provides consultation for inpatients and outpatients as well as a full range of diagnostic testing and treatment options. Our board certified neurologists care for patients with a wide range of disease severity, and follow patients longitudinally throughout their disease course. Our specialists are equipped with the latest in therapeutic options, working closely with our infusion center to provide cutting edge treatments. Our multidisciplinary group includes MS specialists, pain specialists, nurses, research personnel, and physical therapists.