Best Treatment Methods for MS

Best Treatment Methods for MS

Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a disease that affects your immune system. The immune system which exists to protect the body from any foreign attack becomes the attacker itself. It damages the protective layer called myelin which covers the nerve fibers in the body. This leads to communication issues as your brain is unable to converse with the body and vice versa.

There is no permanent cure for MS, but it can only be managed by timely treatment. Here are the treatment options for MS.

Some of the treatment options for MS include medication for MS attacks.

  1. Nerve inflammation is quite common, and certain oral corticosteroids are prescribed to combat the same. These may have side effects such as mood swings, fluid retention, or insomnia.
  2. When your symptoms do not respond to steroids, doctors may resort to plasma exchange where the plasma from your blood is removed, fortified with a protein solution, and infused back.

The treatment options for MS to slow down the progression:

  1. For those in the primary progressive stage of MS, Ocrevus or ocrelizumab is probably the only option. It is the only drug that is FDA-approved, and it promises to slow down the progression of MS.
  2. As regards relapsing-remitting MS, the treatment may involve injectable or oral medications.

Other treatment options for MS include the following:

1. Injectable medications

  • Interferon-beta medications
    These injections are given to reduce the severity and frequency of MS relapses. These injections are commonly prescribed for MS.
  • Copaxone or Glatopa
    These medicines are injected below the layer of the skin, it blocks the immune system from attacking myelin.

2. Oral medications

  • Gilenya is an oral medication that is often prescribed to prevent relapses. It is a strong medication that may slow down your heart rate. Hence, monitoring your heart rate after the first dose is recommended.
  • Tecfidera, Vumerity, Aubagio, Mayzent, and Mavenclad are all similar oral medicines that are prescribed to lower the relapse rate in MS patients. While these are commonly prescribed as  treatment options for MS , these medicines have side effects. And it is essential to speak with your doctor as you begin or continue any of these medications.

3.  Physical therapy
Physical therapy is often one of the most recommended among the several  treatment options for MS . It gradually builds muscle strength and helps ease down the symptoms of the condition.

  • Muscle relaxants work to release painful or uncontrollable muscle stiffness that you often face with MS.
  • Doctors can work with you to understand the level of fatigue as you work through physical therapy. Several medications may be prescribed to treat the condition at this stage.
  • Physical trainers or occupational therapists may work with you as you learn strengthening and stretching exercises.