Newly Diagnosed With MS? What You Should Do

By Robin Westen

No one knows exactly how many people have Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but experts think there are currently 250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States diagnosed with the disease. This means every week approximately 200 people learn they have it, and studies show that the rate of the disease has been steadily increasing. If youre diagnosed with MS, here are the first steps to take:

Know the facts: There are lots of myths around MS and sometimes misconceptions can be scarier than the facts. MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Its caused when the immune system attacks the myelin, the protective insulation covering nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened tissue (lesions), and some underlying nerves are damaged. But MS is almost never fatal; many people diagnosed with the disease never need a wheelchair.

Be sure of your diagnosis: Since MS isnt easy to diagnose, getting a definite diagnosis takes time. Various tests may be used. Besides a neurological exam, you might also have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), evoked potentials (EP), and spinal fluid analysis (spinal tap).

Understand the symptoms: No two people have exactly the same MS symptoms, and you may have different ones from time to time. They can include numbness, blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, extreme fatigue, problems with memory, bladder dysfunction, paralysis, blindness, and more. Over the course of the disease, some MS symptoms will come and go; others may be long lasting.

Get treatment right away: Experts warn that the disease is more likely to progress and possibly lead to disability if you dont begin treatment early. There are now a number of FDA-approved medications that have been shown to modify or slow down the progression of MS and lessen the frequency and severity of attacks. Track your symptoms: This helps your doctor see how the disease is progressing and know whether the medications you are taking are working. If you think youre having MS symptoms, write them down in a log. Include when the symptoms happened, details of what they felt like, and how long they lasted. Avoid triggers: Stress, smoking, fever, hot baths, and sun exposure are believed to contribute to the worsening of MS symptoms and relapses. Additionally, drinking alcohol in excess is discouraged for people with MS because intoxication causes poor coordination and slurred speech, which can worsen or add to existing MS symptoms. Find the right doctor: The neurologist who provides your initial MS diagnosis may not be the specialist you want to stick with for life. Your local chapter of the National MS Society should have a listing of nearby neurologists specializing in the disease. Support groups are also helpful for getting doctor referrals. Robin Westen is ThirdAge's Medical Director. Check for her daily updates. Her latest book, co-authored with Dr. Alyssa Dweck, is "V is for Vagina."

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Newly Diagnosed With MS? What You Should Do