Conventional medical science does not claim that it is possible to completely stop MS in its tracks. However, it prioritizes treatment to stop multiple sclerosis’ acceleration. As a result of this treatment, the disease’s progression is slowed down and the severity of its symptoms is minimized. At the same time, the treatment can result in complications and side effects.
MS is an idiopathic disease. This means that its precise causes have not yet been determined by conventional medicine. It also happens to progress differently in different people: its initial symptoms vary, as does the degree of its severity. Thus, it is not surprising that different courses of treatment will have different degrees of effectiveness for different people and for different forms of MS.
Detailed Information on Treatment to Stop MS’ Acceleration
There are 3 main types of MS medication. The first type of medication helps to manage acute MS attacks, the second type modifies the disease, and the third type helps to manage the disease’s symptoms. Corticosteroids fall within the first category of medication. They stop MS attacks sooner than they would otherwise end. Corticosteroids are great for relieving the inflammation associated with the demyelination of the nerves in the short term. They ensure that the patient recovers better from whatever forms of disability the attacks bring on. In the long term, however, their effectiveness is limited. They do not help to prevent subsequent relapses. Additionally, they have the capacity to cause osteoporosis in some patients. They could also negatively affect the patient’s memory, but this latter symptom can be reversed.
The second category of medication works by suppressing the action of the body’s immune system. As MS is an autoimmune disease, this medication reduces the frequency and severity of MS attacks. The drugs in this category also limit the development of brain lesions. Beta interferons, Glatiramer and Mitoxantrone are included among these drugs. The potential side effects of the beta interferons include flu symptoms and injection-site reactions. Glatiramer’s include mild itching and redness, while Mitoxantrone’s include hair loss.
The third category of medication includes oral drugs like Baclofen and Tizanidine, which are used to treat muscular spasticity or muscle stiffness. Baclofen’s side effects include sedation and weakness, while Tizanidine’s side effects entail less weakness but potentially heavier sedation. Botox is also used to stop multiple sclerosis spasticity, but it is taken as an intramuscular injection. It can result in side effects such as muscle weakness and symptoms akin to influenza.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy are also an important part of MS treatment. They help the patient to cope with the debilitation brought on by MS by improving his or her capacity to function. This makes for improved quality of life.
