Learning you have multiple sclerosis can be alarming and frightening. Here are some questions to ask your doctor about your new diagnosis to help you…
Receiving a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis can leave you feeling overwhelmed and scared. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation estimates that there are more than 2.5 million people living with MS around the world.
It’s normal to have a lot of questions about your new diagnosis. Getting your questions answered and learning about your condition can help you feel more at ease.
Here are some questions to ask your doctor during your next appointment.
What Symptoms Will I Experience?
Chances are, it was your symptoms that helped your doctor diagnosis you in the first place. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, so it can be difficult to predict how your disease will progress or exactly what symptoms you will feel. Your symptoms will also depend on the location of the affected nerve fibers.
Common signs and symptoms of MS include:
- numbness or weakness, usually affecting one side of the body at a time
- painful eye movement
- vision loss or disturbances, usually in one eye
- extreme fatigue
- tingling or “prickly” sensation
- pain
- electric shock sensations, often when moving the neck
- tremors
- balance issues
- dizziness or vertigo
- bowel and bladder issues
- slurred speech
While the exact course of your disease can’t be predicted, 85 percent of those with MS have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). RRMS is characterized by a relapse of symptoms followed by a period of remission that can last months or even years. These relapses are also called exacerbations or flare-ups.
What Are My Treatment Options?
There’s currently no cure, but there are many effective medications available to treat MS. The three main goals for treatment are to:
- modify the disease course by slowing MS activity for longer periods of remission
- treat attacks or relapses
- manage symptoms
Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved by the Food and Drug Administration can effectively decrease the number of relapses and slow progression of your disease. Some DMTs are given by a medical professional through an intravenous infusion, while others are given by injection at home.
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