Multiple Sclerosis Care at CNSI

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve cells, interrupting signals to the brain and causing symptoms. There is no known cause or cure for MS, but it is neither contagious nor fatal.

At the CNSI Multiple Sclerosis Center, our skilled, board-certified physicians and professional staff are specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of MS and other neuroimmunology disorders, such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), and others. Our coordinated continuum of care is in place to ensure our patients receive the comprehensive treatment they need to manage these complex conditions. We offer a wide spectrum of care that includes medications, support groups, education, assisted mobility care, and vocational, occupational, and physical therapies. At the Clinical Neuroscience Multiple Sclerosis Center, our focus is on helping you maintain your independence and best wellness.

Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis

Diagnosing multiple sclerosis can be challenging. At its onset, MS produces symptoms that can sometimes be so mild that the patient takes little notice of them, or the symptoms subside and the patient doesn’t at first recognize that anything is wrong.

With some types of MS, symptoms can be present and then subside, only to reoccur later. Some symptoms of MS include:

  • Blurry vision or vision loss
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Numbness or weakness 
  • Pain or tingling 
  • Problems with bowel and bladder function
  • Tremors
  • Unsteady walking

Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis may involve a physical examination, a review of the patient’s medical history, and utilization of certain tests:

  • Blood screens. May be conducted to rule out other conditions, but it cannot confirm an MS diagnosis. 
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This non-invasive imaging test scans the brain and spinal cord, providing a visual image of nerve cells affected by MS.
  • Spinal tap. A sample of the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid is withdrawn and examined for traces of MS. 
  • Evoked potentials. Tests that monitor the electrical activity in the brain; demyelination of MS can cause this activity to slow.

No single test or examination can confirm MS. A diagnosis is typically made after several tests are conducted and compared, with consideration to the patient’s medical history and symptoms.

How We Treat Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) care and treatment is complex. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment for MS and other neuroimmunology disorders is essential, since cumulative loss of myelin may lead to long-term disability.

At the CNSI Multiple Sclerosis Center, we bring together a broad spectrum of treatment methods to help our patients manage their condition and lead full lives.

There are four courses to the disease:

  • Relapsing/remitting. The most common type, symptoms flare up or exacerbate (an attack), a stage that’s followed by a remission in which the symptoms partially or totally improve.
  • Secondary-progressive. Less common than relapsing/remitting, in this course, the symptoms worsen steadily over time without remissions. Many patients diagnosed with relapsing/remitting MS will arrive at this disease course at some time.
  • Primary-progressive. This type of MS sees symptoms that exacerbate steadily from the onset of the disease. 
  • Progressive-relapsing. The rarest course of the disease, this type of MS begins with steadily worsening symptoms with acute attacks and no remissions.

At the CNSI Multiple Sclerosis Center, we work with each patient to craft an individual treatment plan that is best for them. We employ the use of medications that may alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease, provide occupational, physical, and vocational therapy to improve movement and mobility, appropriate nutrition plans to bolster overall body function, and emotional support and education through patient support groups and forums.

Our goal at the CNSI Multiple Sclerosis Center is to treat the whole patient, support their physical wellness, their emotional health, and maintain the quality of their lives.