ms info

.....IN LIFE EACH HUMAN IS DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER PERSON ALIVE. WE ARE UNIQUE AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WHO CAN BE US......one of the most humbling things I have found is facing my MS with grace and with understanding is that no one else has, will have or has had MS just like I do. My MS is not the same as yours. Your MS is not the same as mine. (Bear with me here, I know that not all of you are sick, I am just trying to make a point. :) ) The most important truth is that my disease can not be charted with a predictiable path. MS is a lot like a hurricane in that it will destory that which lies in it's path but no one knows for sure where or when (or even if) it will make landfall. No one can control a hurricane or convince it to not be a hurricane. Nature will prevail. Man simply learns how to deal with the force of nature and God or he moves. With this in mind here are some pieces of knowledge gleened from WWW.msaa.com ....so without further ado:

What is multiple sclerosis?
The most common neurological disorder diagnosed in young adults, multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. This disorder damages or destroys the protective covering (known as myelin) surrounding the nerves, causing reduced communication between the brain and nerve pathways. MS is not contagious and does not shorten life expectancy. Researchers continue to seek a cause and a cure.

Individuals with MS may have symptoms that include visual changes, overwhelming fatigue, bladder and bowel dysfunction, numbness, dizziness, impaired mobility, chronic aching pain, and other physical, mental, and emotional difficulties. Heat intolerance is a classic MS tendency, where a rise in temperature (internally or externally) may temporarily increase symptoms.

What causes MS?
Most researchers believe MS is an autoimmune disease – one in which white blood cells, meant to fight infection or disease, are misguided to target and attack the body’s own cells. This attack causes inflammation in the CNS, which may damage the myelin and ultimately injure the axons as well.

Is it fatal?
Most people with MS will have a normal life expectancy. The majority of individuals with MS may continue a fulfilling and productive lifestyle.

Will I be confined to a wheel chair?
Seventy-five percent of individuals with MS will not need to use a wheelchair.

Key Facts

1. MS is more likely to progress if you are not on treatment.
2. Earlier treatment gives you the best opportunity to minimize the chance of disability later in life.
3. You should be on the most effective treatment available. Efficacy is more important than convenience.
4. All of the approved drugs for treatment (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Novantrone, Rebif) help; some are more effective than others.
5. Convenience of subcutaneous injections given at home are enhanced with an “autoinjector.”
6. Drugs may have side effects that can be prevented or minimized.

• Subcutaneous skin reactions are reduced with an “autoinjector” and a clean, dry needle.
• Interferon’s (Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif) flu-like side effects reduced with dose escalation and ibuprofen or acetaminophen and/or low dose prednisone.
• Copaxone’s “systemic reactions” are brief with no lasting consequences.
7. Those not responding as well to Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, or Rebifcan take Novantrone for only two to three years due to potential heart toxicity.
8. DO NOT DISCONTINUE ANY THERAPY WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Ultimate Challenge: Focus on Ability, Not Disability

Climb for the Cause: MS on Denali 2002


Important Messages
“We want the MS community and others to realize that we all need to focus on ability versus disability,” states Eric. “Too many people with MS or other chronic diseases spend their time grieving over what they can no longer do – rather than focusing on what they can do. Once the grieving stops, a person opens up a world of greater possibilities.”

The second message is regarding medications used to treat MS. The group wants the public to know that effective drugs are available and most people with MS should be using one of these drugs. They want people to understand that taking one of the approved medications may reduce the development of disability.

For this reason, Eric contacted the drug companies to help find other climbers with MS who are taking different medications. Eric takes Betaseron®, and he found other group members who are taking Avonex® and Copaxone®. In addition to these three drugs, Novantrone® and Rebif® are also available for the treatment of MS.