Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

CCSVI and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Posted on January 28, 2012 by AnneLockhart

In the search for causes of multiple sclerosis, one cause has been the topic of much debate and skepticism and that is the chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency or CCSVI. This large medical term is a condition in which the central nervous system is drained by a compromised blood flow to the veins. This condition and the term were first brought to light by an Italian researcher in 2008 named Paolo Zamboni. He believed that this condition played a direct role in the incidence of multiple sclerosis.

Many people in the medical community do not believe this and it has become a topic of debate among MS researchers; however, it has not stopped the researchers from considering the link and investigating it further. The biggest factor standing in the way of this research is the inherent danger of testing for CCSVI.

Studying CCSVI

In order to study CCSVI, researchers honed in on people with MS who also had been identified as having CCSVI. One such study, a small group of fifteen patients with both conditions, showed that there are several human antigens that are present in both conditions. Another study showed that patients with CCSVI and MS had an almost double rate of these antigens and variations than the control group did; however, the same study found that one particular gene variation that is present in MS does not appear in CCSVI in any of the instances. This simply leads to more questions than answers when it comes to the correlation between the two conditions.

The one thing that has been determined is that much more research is needed. Some studies indicate that CCSVI is not a cause of MS but may play a role in the condition of many people with multiple sclerosis. People who have MS and want to know more about this research and its implications should follow the reports closely. Some of the recent information is presented here to help get MS patients on board with what is known and what is occurring in this important area of research.

First and foremost are the methods used in determining if CCSVI is present in a person. There must be a best practice put in place and adhered to simply to prevent putting a person in any danger from the testing and to ensure that all tests are handled in the same manner so that results are not challenged.
In their efforts to move research forward and create a best practice, researchers are focusing on key areas such as:

The best method of imaging CCSVI and how to best implement it.
The reasons that CCSVI appears more often in people who have a progressive illness.
Understanding the correlation between what is found on ultrasounds and what a normal variation is and what venous insufficiency is in relation to this.
The reason that CCSVI is present in children.
How MS and CCSVI are related in other facets of the disease such as its duration, MRI results and the progression of the disease. The condition will be compared to MS without CCSVI and CCSVI without MS and a relationship determined.

Researchers will use their answers and ideas to these areas to help plan a best practice for diagnosing CCSVI and thus pave the way to finding how the two conditions are related.

Research on the Effects of Treating CCSVI

If the research on CCSVI and its relationship to MS prove to be successful, the next logical step is to determine if treating the blocked veins would be beneficial or detrimental to MS patients. This is one area that has been the topic of many debates, as the treatment of blocked veins can often be dangerous. Researchers and scientists will have to find the answers to many questions including:

What risks are associated with the procedure to unblock veins?
Does treatment of CCSVI have a positive effect on all types of multiple sclerosis?
Is the treatment permanent and if not how long will it last?
Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Is the treatment reliable?
Is treatment of CCSVI more beneficial than common therapy being used to treat MS?

Like the answers to the questions in the first phase of research, the answers to these questions will help determine if CCSVI treatment is effective in patients with multiple sclerosis.

There are many agencies receiving funding grants to continue these studies and many more patients with multiple sclerosis watching the medical news in hopes of finding that science has found an answer to their pain.

Scientist and doctors around the world are diligently working toward finding more treatment options for patients with MS. Many of them have placed their hope in CCSVI and treating it in order to treat MS. Until more research is conducted, MS patients will have to watch and read in order to stay abreast of the results.

The Best Diet for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Posted on January 21, 2012 by AnneLockhart

Well-balanced diets are essential for maintaining good health and even more important if there is a chronic condition such as multiple sclerosis. Determining what the best diet is for multiple sclerosis patients is one of the things a nutritionist will help with when providing advice for living with multiple sclerosis. The nutritionist knows that body needs to have proper nutrition for energy and fighting infection.

Planning the MS Diet

People with multiple sclerosis can work with a nutritionist to plan their diet and they can use information compiled by doctors, nutritionists and other MS patients to put together a personalized diet plan. Some of this nutritional information is presented below to help get the diet plan started.

The most obvious place to start is with foods that should be avoided. Food allergies should be taken into consideration and listed so that they are not accidentally included in the diet plan. Dairy products should be limited in quantity as they have a tendency to make the body more acidic and also more prone to disease.

Inflammation is a major source of painful symptoms for people who have multiple sclerosis. Foods that are natural anti-inflammatory agents should be included in the diet to help prevent a host of other symptoms from occurring. The following foods have natural anti-inflammatory properties:

Seeds and nuts: walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are excellent not only for their anti-inflammatory properties but also due to their protein and omega-three fatty acid content.
Herb and spices: Basil, cocoa, mint, cinnamon, chili pepper and cloves are excellent for preventing inflammation and also have anti-oxidant properties.
Oils: Olive oil and vegetable oil both fight inflammation.
Seafood: Salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel and oysters are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and help prevent inflammation in the MS patient.
Fruits and vegetables: Green leafy vegetables not only fight inflammation but are packed with antioxidants. Some of the best choices include broccoli, cabbage, collards, spinach, green beans, bells pepper and other leafy vegetables. Fruits include strawberries, raspberries, limes, tomatoes, orange, guava and many other fresh fruit.

Fresh foods, such as those included above are a must when preparing a diet for multiple sclerosis. Processed foods should be avoided as they are typically very high in sodium which can lead to inflammation and serious pain. Utilizing fresh foods helps the body with digestion and aids in staying as healthy as possible. It may take a little more effort to prepare fresh foods but the end result is a powerful tool for coping with multiple sclerosis. The body is better able to absorb vitamins and nutrients from fresh foods.

Foods to Avoid

Many nutritionists and people with multiple sclerosis have found that a gluten free diet is an excellent plan for living with the disease. Gluten is found in many processed foods and in order to eliminate it, the packages must be read to find out what the ingredients include. Flour, barley, oats and rye should not be an ingredient. Gluten free is becoming a popular was of living for many people and so manufacturers have begun indicating on the package when a product is gluten free.

There has been a correlation found between saturate fat and processed meats such as sausage and lunch meats and the incidence of multiple sclerosis. This would make these products foods that should not be included in the diet plan.

Sugar should be avoided and alternatives such as honey used in its place. There are many unsweetened fruit juices that can be used in place of high sugar ones as well as many other low-sugar and alternative sweetener products.

High-fat foods should be avoided by everyone; however, the multiple sclerosis diet should make an extra effort to avoid saturated fats. Skinless chicken, fish and other seafood are meat choices that have little or no saturated feet.

Water

The importance of water in the diet cannot be overstated. Everyone needs to drink at least 8 (8 oz.) glasses of water and the person with multiple sclerosis is no different. Water keeps the body hydrated and the cells in the body healthy. Healthy cells help keep some of the symptoms that are associated with multiple sclerosis at bay.

Overall, the diet for multiple sclerosis is simply a very healthy diet that is perfect for anyone, not just the person with MS. The diet is filled with healthy, unprocessed foods that are low in saturated fat and packed with fresh fruits and vegetables. While there are some foods that should be avoided, such as gluten and sugar, those same foods should be avoided by anybody wanting to eat healthy. If the doctor feels that a special diet is required, a nutritionist will help plan out what should and should not be included to make the diet an MS healthy diet.

Posted in Multiple Sclerosis | Tagged The Best Diet for MS, the MS Diet | Leave a comment

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on January 14, 2012 by AnneLockhart

For many people, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is one step closer to treatment of a host of symptoms that have possibly been unexplained for a long time, sometimes years. The symptoms associated with this disease are so varied that many doctors are stymied as to their origin and the patient simply has to keep seeking answers until the right tests are performed and all the pieces of the puzzle come together.

What is MS?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the auto-immune system in which the Myelin Sheath that insulates the nerves is attacked and damaged. This damage prevents the nerves from communicating with each other properly and thus a host of symptoms begins to occur. Many of the symptoms are identical to those of other diseases and some are simply baffling to doctors. This makes diagnosing the disease hard and often time consuming.

Testing

In order to diagnose multiple sclerosis, the doctor must first have a complete overview of the symptoms that are being experienced. The combination of many different symptoms should lead to testing for multiple sclerosis. The difficulty lies in the fact that no two MS patients have identical symptoms. However, if MS is suspected, the doctor should order tests, including:

Brain and spine MRI which allows the doctor to look for specific inflammation and lesions.
Spinal Tap
Neurological testing known as nerve conduction tests to look for nerve damage.
Sed Rate: This is a lab test that will also indicate if inflammation is present.

A complete physical exam will also be done and will include coordination and strength tests to determine if those have been affected by anything, which, in this case would be the MS.

Treatment

Once the testing is completed and a diagnosis has been made, the next most important step is treatment of the disease. There are medications that will assist with the inflammation and symptoms and provide the necessary relief needed to live as symptom free as possible. There are multiple forms of treatment that doctors will provide and explain such as:

Medications for many of the symptoms associated with MS such as fatigue, pain when walking, nausea and vomiting, UTI, spastic muscles, depression and much more. Some medications are available without a prescription, such as those for constipation and others are only available with a prescription.
Self-care techniques and rehabilitative therapy: This includes therapy to help with any cognitive symptoms such as speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Rehabilitation Programs: These are programs designed to help with MS symptoms that have become severe and affected daily life. These programs help patients learn or relearn how to perform daily living functions despite having disabilities.

Rehabilitation programs should be considered part of an ongoing treatment for MS, as the disease progresses there are different types of programs, such as therapy for swallowing and speaking, physical therapy to assist with mobility and muscle tone, vocational rehabilitation, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Doctors and therapists, along with input from the patient, will put together a treatment plan for the newly diagnosed patient. This plan will be reassessed over time to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the patient adequately.

Disclosure

One of the first things many newly diagnosed MS patients ponder is who to tell, if anyone. There is no right or wrong answer as this is a personal decision. The important thing to keep in mind is that support is an important tool in fighting any disease.

Family members may be a support tool that is needed during this time. Friends don’t have to be told at first, unless there are some very close friends that will offer the needed support to deal with the disease.

Before disclosing the disease to employers, the newly diagnosed patient should carefully research the Americans with Disabilities Act and weigh the cost of disclosing the disease. Many people with MS decide not to inform their employer until they simply have to due to symptoms becoming too bad to continue working.

The decision about whether or not to tell people about being diagnosed with MS is not one that should be made on the spur of the moment. Although it shouldn’t matter, many people don’t want others to pity them or think they are disabled. The shock of the disease may at first have friends and family stunned and puzzled; however, if they research the symptoms and learn more about the disease they will soon see that it is okay to ask questions and act normally.

Ultimately, being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is a life-changing experience that requires an adjustment period. However, once a treatment plan is put in place and family and friends understand the disease, it can be dealt with like any other disease and life lived to the fullest.

Posted in Diagnosis | Tagged Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, MS Disclosure | Leave a comment