Informative video series launched to support people living with secondary progressive MS – Offaly Express

MS Ireland and Novartis have launched a new video series entitled SPMS Explained,which aims to support those living with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) in Ireland.

People with SPMS are typically diagnosed after 10 to 20 years living with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and studies indicate that 50% of those diagnosed with RRMS will transition to SPMS within 10 years, and 90% will transition within 25 years. SPMS symptoms do not go away completely after a relapse or flare-up and there is a steady increase in disability.

The SPMS Explained video series has been developed in close collaboration with leading specialists including Professor Gavin Giovannoni, Professor of Neurology, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Professor Niall Pender, Head of Department of Psychology, Beaumont Hospital and Associate Professor in Neuropsychology, Trinity College Dublin. The series addresses topics that are of key concern to people either living with RRMS, those transitioning to SPMS or those that have transitioned.

Commenting on the launch of SPMS Explained,Ava Battles, CEO of MS Ireland, said: The transition to SPMS can be a daunting experience and one that brings up many questions. Our aim in launching this video series is to ensure that there is valuable information available at all times so that none of these questions go unanswered. We hope that the series is a source of comfort and reassurance for people living with SPMS, but also for their families and loved ones.

The series addresses topics such as recognising the signs and symptoms of SPMS, cognition and SPMS, where to access information on your rights, as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction.The videos have been created in collaboration with healthcare professionals and are based on international research in the field.

Professor Gavin Giovannoni said: Our goal for treating people living with MS is to delay their disease progression for as long as possible through early diagnosis and early treatment. MS symptoms includevision problems, tingling and numbness, pain and spasms, weakness and fatigue. With SPMS, these symptoms worsen and occur more frequently and there are greater issues with cognition, bowel and bladder problems. It is important that any change in symptoms are tracked and are discussed with your neurologist.

Dr Niall Pender said: The transition from RRMS to SPMS impacts a persons cognitive abilities and can result in a slowing of thinking speed, lapses in concentration or ability to retain information. The important thing to remember is that this is a disease of variability, not everyone will experience these symptoms and each individual will experience the transitioning process in a unique way. There are techniques we use to help people to manage their symptoms and minimise the impact on daily life.

Topics covered in the video series include:

More information is available online.

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Informative video series launched to support people living with secondary progressive MS - Offaly Express