Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis

Posted on May 13, 2012 by AnneLockhart

Acute Disseminated EncephalomyelitisThere are many diseases that are so similar in nature to multiple sclerosis that they are considered to be borderline multiple sclerosis. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is one of these diseases. This immune system disease is a disease that attacks the brain and typically occurs after a viral infection although there are other causes.

ADEM usually occurs in children and is not highly prevalent, occurring on about 8 out of every 1,000,000 people. While this is not a high rate, parents who are coping with ADEM need to learn about the disease, what causes it and how it is treated in order to feel more confident that their child will recover. Adults may also be diagnosed with ADEM although their onset is not typically related to vaccinations.

Causes

ADEM may be caused by viral infections, bacterial infections, vaccinations, and organ transplants. A more detailed breakdown of the cause of this disease follows:

  • Viral Infections: Herpes simplex, hepatitis A, Epstein Barr, cytomegalovirus, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, coxsackievirus, and varicella zoster.
  • Bacterial Infections: Beta-hemolytic Streptococci, Borrelia burgdorferi, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and Leptospira.
  • Vaccinations: It is important to note that the only vaccine that has been proven to be linked to ADEM is a form of the rabies vaccine known as Semple; however, other vaccines have shown to be linked to ADEM, including vaccines for measles, mumps, hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and pneumococcus.

Further investigations into the causes of ADEM are being conducted, particularly in the cases thought to be related to vaccinations. These tests have caused many parents to question the vaccinations that pediatricians recommend for their children.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis usually appear within a few weeks of being exposed to the virus or having been vaccinated. Symptoms usually include:

  • Fever with no obvious origin;
  • Headache
  • Extreme drowsiness
  • Seizures
  • Coma

Initially these symptoms may appear mild; however, if the culprit behind them is ADEM, they worsen quickly, typically in about 4 days with the most severe symptoms being cranial nerve palsies, extreme weakness on one side of the body (hemipareiss) and even paralysis of the lower body (paraparesis). Fortunately, most children who have ADEM are under a doctor’s care before these severe symptoms occur.

Treatment

Treating ADEM involves an aggressive attack on the central nervous system with medications that will reduce the inflammation. Steroids, typically corticosteroids, are given intravenously until the body begins to respond. These are followed by a longer cycle of oral steroids such as prednisone. The length of the prednisone dosing plays a large role in how well the patient responds and maintains there wellness. Three weeks of oral steroids has been shown to be at least the minimum amount of time needed to increase recovery chances.

Recovery

The good news for parents of children with ADEM is that 50 -70% of cases have a full recovery over a period of time ranging from 1-6 months. Approximately 70-90% of ADEM patients will recover with only minor disabilities assessed when the condition is gone. The highest rate of death associated with ADEM is in patients that are not able to tolerate steroid therapy, have sever, sudden onset of the disease or have extreme neurological effects from the disease. Children have a better recovery rate than adults as do those cases that present with fever versus those that have no fever.

Comparing ADEM to MS

As stated previously, many doctors and scientists consider ADEM to be part of a family of diseases that are linked to multiple sclerosis. The two diseases are very similar in that they both involve damage to the protective covering of the nerves in the central nervous system that are associated with the autoimmune system.

Like multiple sclerosis, ADEM patients can suffer from cognitive disability even when there are no obvious physical disabilities. The cognitive disabilities seen with ADEM are typically less severe than those seen in patients with MS.

There is no majority agreement that places ADEM and MS in the same class of disease; in fact, there is not a completely and totally agreed upon definition for multiple sclerosis as it can encompass a host of disease and symptoms. One definition of MS labels it as a disease with inflammatory lesions that affect the CNS – this is the definition that ADEM fits in with perfectly. A more technical definition of MS, based on the location of the offending plaque shows the two to be entirely different– distinctly in the white matter in MS and more broadly spread out with not distinct definition in ADEM. These differing definitions explain why some doctors consider ADEM to be borderline MS and some do not.

ADEM is a dangerous disease that can be contracted by viral infection and possibly from certain vaccinations. The good news is that treatment options are vast and the prognosis for recovery is high.

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Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on May 6, 2012 by JoannWesthoven

Yoga and Multiple SclerosisMultiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that starts when the body’s defense system mistakenly attacks the myelin protection that surrounds the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The area under attack becomes inflamed and the nerves don’t work right with the pathways between the brain and body blocked.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis include dizziness, fatigue, blurred speech and problems remembering language, issues with vision, numbness, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Those suffering from MS may experience vertigo, clumsiness, unsteady gait, weakness, bowel and bladder problems, memory and cognitive issues, and mild to severe pain.

Multiple sclerosis has a number of signs and symptoms, never affecting two people in exactly the same way. The disease may consist of mild episodes and long symptom-free periods throughout a patient’s life, with very few permanent effects. It can be progressive, with an escalating succession of attacks with a diminished recovery after each one, or anything in between.

Yoga

Yoga is a discipline that is meant integrate the spiritual, physical, and mental aspects of life. The physical aspect of yoga is referred to as Hatha yoga, which takes a person through different sequences of poses that require the practitioner to stretch muscles and control their breathing.

Hatha Yoga comes in many different styles which will allow multiple sclerosis sufferers to choose the style that fits their physical ability. One style that is often recommended by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is Iyengar yoga which can even be done while in a wheel chair. Iyengar yoga concentrates on the precise alignment of the poses. This type of yoga requires participants to utilize objects like chairs, straps, mats, blocks and blankets in the yoga poses.

Other types of yoga include:

  • Ashtanga yoga is fast-paced and vigorous. The focus is on building flexibility, strength, concentration, and stamina.
  • Gentle yoga is a series of slow stretches, centering on flexibility, and deep breathing.
  • Kundalini yoga adds chanting and meditation to a variety of poses and breathing techniques.
  • Restorative yoga is a style that promotes full relaxation. Practitioners passively maintain simple postures for extended periods of time, focusing on breathing and the positioning of the pose.
  • Vinyasa or power yoga is similar to Ashtanga yoga. This style is vigorous, with the focus on improving flexibility, strength, and stamina.
  • Bikram yoga is is typically practiced in rooms where the temperature is over 100° Fahrenheit or 37.8° Celsius and is generally not recommended for those with MS. This is because most MS sufferers are very sensitive to heat, in fact heat can cause a relapse of MS.

Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis

A yoga program designed for those suffering with MS can be personalized or adapted to meet the needs and conditions of almost anyone. Yoga can be practiced from a prone position, or from a wheel chair. You can go to classes or get a class on DVD to do at your home. Whenever possible it is recommended that you try to attend at least a months worth of classes. This would allow you to work with a trained yoga instructor to ensure you are doing the poses correctly.

Below are some of the typical symptoms of multiple sclerosis and how yoga can be used to combat these medical issues:

  • Fatigue – the Restorations form of yoga utilizes a deep, restful series of poses that is great for combating fatigue, stress, and allows the practitioner to rest and yet stretch their muscles and work on their breathing.
  • Muscle Spasms and clumsiness – Assisted or passive yoga poses will allow the practitioner to have more control of their balance. The poses and breathing exercises help relieve muscle tension and will relieve the spasms. The postures that require forward bends will stretch the entire back and hamstrings, releasing lower core tension this will help keep the spinal column flexible and strong. Standing poses will allow you to strengthen legs, showing you how to open your hips and focus on improving your sense of balance.
  • Limited movement – for those in a wheel chair or with a limited range of motion there are yoga chair poses that can be modified to meet your personal abilities.
  • Muscle Weakness can be improved by starting with what you can do and working through the poses to build up muscle tone and strength. Because much of yoga also focuses on controlled breathing exercises it will also improve your oxygen intake and lung capacity.
  • Mood or fighting depression – from breathing deeply to working on finding inner peace, yoga practices help with the mind-body connection and many Multiple Sclerosis sufferers say that this is one of the first benefits to yoga, and one of the most lasting.

The Science of Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis

There have been several studies done on the effects of yoga on multiple sclerosis symptoms. One study tied yoga to significant improvements in fatigue within just six months.

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Cures for Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on May 1, 2012 by AnneLockhart

Cures for Multiple SclerosisFor thousands and thousands of people in the United States and around the world, finding cures for multiple sclerosis is a dream they have on a daily basis. They live each day with pain, coordination and balance problems and other conditions that make their daily life a struggle. Multiple sclerosis affects everyone differently and yet at the same time the common goal of finding a cure is shared among all.

To date, there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis that will stop its progression and no known vaccination to prevent people from contracting the disease. In fact, scientists cannot say with complete accuracy what causes the disease which in turn means they can determine what will cure it. However, there are many types of treatment that are employed to help provide some relief and allow for a better quality of life.

Treatment Options

The best treatment options are those that can help slow down the progression of the disease, particularly since there is no known way to completely stop it from ravaging the body. Other treatments are designed to help with the pain and discomfort associated with the symptoms so that daily life can be enjoyed to the fullest.

Immunotherapy is one of the most used treatments for multiple sclerosis. This type of treatment is typically injections of immunotherapy medications that have been found to alter the immune system and the way it functions. These medications, known as beta interferons, attack infection in the body to facilitate relief of the attacks associated with multiple sclerosis and their severity.

Many people with multiple sclerosis choose not to use beta interferons because of the unpleasant side effects that can occur such as fever, indigestion, coughing, drowsiness and skin irritation. When these side effects become severe many people will forego this treatment and seek other options.

Some doctors use chemotherapy drugs like Mitoxantrone to treat multiple sclerosis; however, this medication cannot be used for long periods of time due to the damaging effects it has on the body and many people cannot deal with the side effects.

Other medications that are used to treat MS are prescribed for the symptoms of the disease to make it easier to live with. Medicines such as pain relievers, anti-depressants, steroids for vision problems, and other common prescriptions to help with pain, swelling and other conditions are part of the daily regiment for many MS patients.

Therapy

Medication is not the only treatment used by people with MS; therapy is an important part of coping with the disease. There are many different types of therapy that can be used depending on how far the disease has progressed and what is needed to help with daily life.

Physical therapy can provide muscle tone and help with the weakness and coordination problems that are part of the disease. As the disease progresses, many people find that they need to have rehabilitative therapy to maintain their quality of life. Such therapy can include speech therapy to help with swallowing and speaking as well as therapy to assist with day to day activities such as dressing and maintaining their grooming habits on their own.

Psychological treatment should not be overlooked. Support groups and therapists are an essential part of staying as healthy as possible by learning to cope with the disease and its ravaging effects on the body. Depression and other mental health issues are common in MS patients and so it is important to stay on top of this by seeking support when needed.

Self Treatment

Treatment can be done at home using prescription medications and over the counter drugs as deemed appropriate by the doctor. However, if injections are needed or prescribed these are most often administered by a doctor or nurse. The doctor can often refer a home health nurse to do the injections. This is a huge help for the person who has multiple sclerosis and may have trouble with mobility.

Exercise and eating healthy are also treatments that can be handled without the assistance of a doctor. Exercise helps with mobility and keeping the muscles toned and in conjunction with physical therapy can help keep arms and legs from deteriorating as fast as they would without exercise.

A healthy diet should always be part of the lifestyle of people with multiple sclerosis. Keeping the body as strong and protected against common illnesses such as colds and flu are facilitated by a diet filled with vitamins and minerals obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables. There is not a specific diet that must be followed by people with multiple sclerosis; however, some theories abound that dairy should be avoided. This should be discussed with the doctor who can decide if there are specific dietary needs.

The bottom line is that there are no cures for MS and the best a person can do is use the treatment options available to ease the symptoms and make life easier.

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