MS Treatment

MS treatment plans depend on how advanced a person's multiple sclerosis is and how severe his or her symptoms are. The goals of MS treatment are to manage symptoms, control the disease, and prevent attacks. There is no universal MS treatment that works in all cases. Some MS treatment options include medications, physical and occupational therapy, and emotional support.

 

MS Treatment: An Overview

There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), but there are many types of MS treatment options available. For example:
 
  • Medications
  • Physical or occupational therapy
  • Emotional support.
     
These treatments don't make MS disappear, but they can help to manage the symptoms and control the progression of the disease.
 
MS treatment goals fall into three basic categories:
 
  • Manage the exacerbations or relapses of MS, which are the attacks where new symptoms appear or old symptoms get worse
  • Modify the disease itself
  • Manage the MS symptoms.
     

Medications as an MS Treatment

There are several medications available as part of a
 multiple sclerosis treatment plan. The different categories of medication are as follows.
 
Medications to Manage Exacerbations
MS exacerbations (flare-ups) are usually accompanied by inflammation and breakdown of the myelin in the central nervous system. If your symptoms are severe, high doses of steroids, such as Solu-Medrol®, may be given through an IV to reduce the swelling and inflammation that contribute to demyelination.
(MS Treatment Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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