When The Diagnosis Is Multiple Sclerosis

Kym Orsetti Furney was a 34-year-old physician, specializing in Internal Medicine, busy with her exciting job and enjoying life with her husband and young daughter in 2000, when she suddenly began to experience dizziness repeatedly, which rapidly led to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Her world was rocked for a time, but Furney has recovered from the shock and - empowered by information, acceptance and support - continues working as a doctor, teaching and taking care of her family, despite the challenges of MS. For all people dealing with a personal or family diagnosis now, she offers help, hope and insights by explaining all the medical perspectives, but also reflecting on her own personal experiences after diagnosis. Never forgetting the fear and hopelessness she felt at the time she learned of her own MS, she discusses the many challenges, from depression and overcoming fear of injection medications, to how and when to tell others about having MS and understanding the impact MS may have on one's career. Readers will find a strong connection with this talented physician and the thoughts and emotions that she has had facing MS. Furney's well-researched and compassionate writing will not only empower people newly diagnosed with MS, but will give family members insight into the physical and emotional challenges for their loved one, challenges that she or he may not immediately be able to voice. This work also offers invaluable insights for healthcare professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, physical and occupational therapists.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, often progressive, and potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system. Onset of disease is usually between the ages of 15 and 50, with the incidence nearly twice as high in women. While the cause of MS is still unknown, the predominant theory is that it is an autoimmune disease, triggered by an unknown environmental factor that results in both loss of central nervous system myelin and degeneration of axons and neurons. Although there have been a number of publications addressing different aspects of MS treatment in the neurological literature, there is a dearth of material on MS designed for internists and primary care physicians, who are often the first to see patients presenting with symptoms of MS. Therefore, this concise, clinically focused volume will serve as a valuable resource tailored to the specific needs of internists and primary care physicians. Part of the Oxford Neurology Library, this highly practical pocketbook covers current approaches and new developments in the diagnosis, treatment and management of MS, including both early and advanced stages of the disease. The book offers in-depth coverage of special populations, as well as the more unusual manifestations of MS, which are less familiar to the internal medicine audience. It will also address the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of MS. In addition to providing up-to-date information on pharmacological therapies for MS, the book also describes an array of non-pharmacological treatment options.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often disabling disease of the nervous system, affecting about 1 million people worldwide. Even though it has been known for over a hundred years, no cause or cure has yet been discovered-but now there is hope. New therapies have been shown to slow the disease progress in some patients, and the pace of discoveries about the cellular machinery of the brain and spinal cord has accelerated. This book presents a comprehensive overview of multiple sclerosis today, as researchers seek to understand its processes, develop therapies that will slow or halt the disease and perhaps repair damage, offer relief for specific symptoms, and improve the abilities of MS patients to function in their daily lives. The panel reviews existing knowledge and identifies key research questions, focusing on: Research strategies that have the greatest potential to understand the biological mechanisms of recovery and to translate findings into specific strategies for therapy. How people adapt to MS and the research needed to improve the lives of people with MS. Management of disease symptoms (cognitive impairment, depression, spasticity, vision problems, and others). The committee also discusses ways to build and financially support the MS research enterprise, including a look at challenges inherent in designing clinical trials. This book will be important to MS researchers, research funders, health care advocates for MS research and treatment, and interested patients and their families.

Multiple Sclerosis: a complex disease requiring sophisticated management Multiple Sclerosis poses labyrinthine challenges. There is no blood test to rely on for diagnosis; clinical acumen is essential. Yet an effective diagnosis only takes you part of the way: treatment offers further enigmas. The MS treatment landscape is complicated, and will become even more so with time. Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Therapy is the map you need to navigate this maze. Written and edited by leaders in the field, it guides you towards effective and positive choices for your patients. The diagnosis section provides state-of-the-art thinking about pathogenesis. With clear coverage of biomarkers, genetics, and imaging, it presents a coherent framework for making the correct diagnosis. The management section comprehensively covers current and future treatments to steer you through the many options for • Symptom management • Cognitive dysfunction • Depression and other mental health issues ‘Top Tips’ throughout provide the practical guidance you need for the best management of your patients. Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Therapy should be on the bookshelf of anyone who treats patients with multiple sclerosis.

Your trusted, compassionate guide to living with MS Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn't mean yourlife is over. Everyone's MS is different and no one can predictexactly what yours will be like. The fact is, lots of people livetheir lives with MS without making a full-time job of it. Multiple Sclerosis For Dummies gives you accessible,easy-to-understand information about what happens withMS—what kinds of symptoms it can cause, how it can affectyour life at home and at work, what you can do to feel and functionbetter, and how you can protect yourself and your family againstthe long-term unpredictability of the disease. You'll learn how tomake treatment and lifestyle choices that work for you, whatqualities to look for in a neurologist and the rest of yourhealthcare team, how to manage fatigue, the pros and cons ofalternative medicine, why and how to talk to your kids about MS,stress management strategies, your rights under the Americans withDisabilities act, and so much more. Covers major medical breakthroughs that slow the progression ofthe disease and improve quality of life for those living withMS Helps those affected by MS and their family members understandthe disease and the latest treatment options Helpful and trusted advice on coping with physical, mental,emotional, and financial aspects of MS Complete with listings of valuable resources such as otherbooks, websites, and community agencies and organizations that youcan tap for information or assistance, Multiple Sclerosis ForDummies gives you everything you need to make educated choicesand comfortable decisions about living with MS.

Multiple Sclerosis: The History of a Disease won a 2005 ForeWord Book of the Year Silver Medal! The basic facts about multiple sclerosis are well known: it is the most common neurologic disease of young adults, usually beginning with episodic attacks of neurologic symptoms, then entering a progressive phase some years later. Its onset has an average age of 30, and occurs in about 1 in 500 individuals of European ancestry living primarily in temperate climates. There appears to be a complex interaction between a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger that initiates the disease. But these facts do not convey the impact of the disease on the people whose lives it affects. In this elegantly written and comprehensive history, we meet individuals who suffered with MS in the centuries before the disease had a name, including blessed Lidwina of Holland, who took joy from her misery, believing that she was sent to accept suffering for the sins of others; Augustus d'Est, grandson of George III and cousin of Queen Victoria, whose case shows how someone with access to the best of medical care of the age was understood and managed; and Heinrich Heine, the great German poet, who also had access to all medical services that were available, but who progressed into his mattress grave in two decades, aware of the loss of physical ability while still able to compose great poetry to the end. From these early cases the author demonstrates how progress in diagnosing and managing multiple sclerosis has paralleled the development of medical science, from the early developments in modern studies of anatomy and pathology, to the framing of the disease in the nineteenth century, and eventually to modern diagnosis and treatment. From beginning to end, Dr. Murray takes us on a fascinating journey of discovery, in the process showing how the evolution of our understanding of multiple sclerosis has been part of the greater history of medical knowledge.

Authors Rosner and Ross offer a positive approach to understanding and coping with MS in a book that provides up-to-date information in clear, nontechnical language. The book covers diagnosing the disease, its varying symptoms and courses, and dealing with the emotional problems that accompany MS.

Recent rapid changes in the field of multiple sclerosis management have made the task of staying well-informed a challenge for neurologists, and even more so for other healthcare practitioners who are involved in symptom evaluation and treatment. Multiple Sclerosis for the Non-Neurologist is an up-to-date resource for physicians, residents, fellows, and others who care for patients with MS. It contains authoritative information on all aspects of this complex disease, including monitoring requirements for patients with MS, potential risks and adverse events of disease modifying or symptomatic therapies, and possible drug interactions and contraindications of medications.