Multiple Sclerosis
Patient Education

Doctors Who Treat Multiple Sclerosis

As multiple sclerosis is diagnosed, treated and managed, you may encounter the following team of doctors and specialists. Having a team of doctors or specialists with varied expertise will more accurately help diagnose the possibility of having multiple sclerosis and enable better management of disabling symptoms.

Members of the multiple sclerosis treatment team include:

• Neurologist - Helps diagnose and manage symptoms of multiple sclerosis affecting nerves like shakes, weakness of muscles or limbs and thinking abilities.
• Physiatrist - A doctor who specializes in rehabilitation therapy. This doctor designs a treatment plan to help keep as much function as possible.
• Occupational Therapist - Plans out strategies to help perform tasks that will be needed at work
• Nutritionist - Plans out daily dietary needs, vitamins and meal plans to achieve maximum balanced health
• Physical Therapist - Designs an exercise program to maintain balance, coordination and strength.
• Speech Pathologist - Assesses and formulates exercises to treat communication problems
• Psychologist - Assesses disturbances in mood (depression, anxiety, tension) or mental health associated with multiple sclerosis and provides therapy to improve the problem
• Psychiatrist - Doctor who provides medication or shock therapy to improve mental health issues associated with multiple sclerosis
• Urologist - Doctor who deals with urinary tract problems and supplies advice or medication for any dysfunction in this system due to multiple sclerosis
• Nurse - Provides education for multiple sclerosis and helps coordinate care
• Social worker - Puts patients in touch with support groups and helps with insurance or disability forms as well as any agencies that will be needed for additional services
• Family Physician or Internist - Coordinates care from all the specialists and treats any conditions or disorders that may be occurring simultaneously

How to Prepare for Your Multiple Sclerosis Doctor Visit

Having made your appointment with a healthcare provider, there are certain actions that you need to take in order to maximize the benefit of your multiple sclerosis doctor visit which are listed below in this patient education guide.

• Bring a list of all medications that are currently being taken. Note the dosage of each medication.
• Bring a list of all symptoms experienced, with a time line such as when they started, when they stopped, what made them worse
• Take a list of allergies
• Have a list of all past medical history including surgery, medical problems and the dates of each

For an MRI:

• Wear clothes without any metal
• Remove all jewelry, Glasses, hearing aids, dentures, wallet
• Remove cosmetics/make-up
• Remove any prosthetic devices

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Multiple Sclerosis

From your initial diagnosis throughout your treatment and care, you will have questions about multiple sclerosis. Listed in this patient education guide are questions to discuss with your doctor so you can make informed decisions about your condition.

Question About My Diagnosis

• What caused my multiple sclerosis?
• How do you diagnose the condition?
• What type of MS do I have? What stages will I experience?
• Are there other conditions that can be confused with MS? Are there other conditions associated with MS?
• Should I see a specialist?

Questions About My Treatment

• Is there treatment for MS? If so, which do you advise?
• How is the treatment administered? What are the side effects?
• Can the treatment keep me in remission?
• Are there alternative therapies that you recommend?
• Are there clinical trials that I could enroll in?

Questions About My Lifestyle & Family

• Is MS hereditary?
• Are there activities that I should avoid
• Will I still be able to work? Can I drive?
• Is there a special diet that you advise?
• Is there exercise to improve my condition?

Common Tests or Labs to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis

In recent years, doctors have been able to diagnose multiple sclerosis earlier in patients. It could take years for warning signs and symptoms of the disease to lead to a definitive diagnosis. However, newer techniques have been refined with tests to help rule out any other neurological or muscular condition and come to a conclusive diagnosis.

Currently, there are three benchmark tests in addition to a thorough examination and review of symptom history. They are listed below in this patient education guide:

Common Medications and Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis

There are four main objectives to treatment of multiple sclerosis which are listed below in this patient education guide:

1. Diminishing the frequency of neurological attacks
2. Shortening time to recover from attacks
3. Inhibit disease progression
4. Relief of complications or side effects of multiple sclerosis

Research into future treatment options of multiple sclerosis centers around myelin manufacture by the brain to block nerve death. Other research focuses on implanting cells into the spinal cord or brain to grow in areas where these cells are missing to promote impulse transmission along the damaged nerves.

Stretching exercises can help to diminish stiffness and increase mobility.

Massage therapy may help with the tightened or spasmodic muscles in multiple sclerosis.