Is There a Cure for Muscular Sclerosis?

Muscular sclerosis or multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Its effects can be minor or they can be devastating. Some MS victims end up completely paralyzed by their disease. But is there is a cure for multiple sclerosis?

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

• Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. It is a very unpredictable disease. Some patients suffer from little to no problems while others lose control of their entire body. MS attacks the myelin in the nerves, which cause the nerves to lose function. The reasons for MS are unknown. Some think it is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body. Others think it is a virus. Early symptoms include blurred vision or even blindness. Numbness and weakness in the arms and legs is common, as is decreased coordination and balance. This can impair walking or in extreme cases cause paralysis. Concentration, attention, memory and judgment can all be affected by MS. MS often causes depression. Attacks of MS are seemingly random with little warning signs. A person may be fine for years without any worsening of his symptoms when a sudden attack of MS makes him lose more abilities.

Is There a Cure for Multiple Sclerosis?

• Unfortunately, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Through the years, many false cures have been advertised by either well meaning people or con artists. Some doctors have claimed that removing fillings with mercury will cure MS but this has been proven to be false. Calcium and hydrogen peroxide have also been touted as miracle cures for MS. It is well known throughout the medical community that no cure for MS currently exists. If you run into a website or practitioner who claims to have a cure for MS, it is advised to avoid its use. Many of the "cures" such as calcium are harmless but some of them, including marijuana use, can be harmful. The symptoms of MS can be treated and the disease can be slowed down by medication.

Treatments

• Many MS patients live a full life without any therapy. They are the lucky ones. Many MS patients have to take medicines nearly every day for the rest of their lives. There are three beta interferon drugs that the FDA has approved for use against MS. These include Avonex, Betaseron and Rebif. These drugs reduce the number of attacks in an MS patient and slow the progress of the disease. Attacks will also be shorter and less severe. A myelin protein called copolymer I or Copaxone helps treat relapsing MS and has been shown to decrease relapsing by one third. Advanced MS is treated with an immunosuppressant treatment called Novantrone. This drug suppresses your immune system, so it is only used in severe or chronic cases of MS. Tysabri is another drug that slows the immune system. Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation during attacks but don't treat the disease itself. Physical therapies such as walking, jogging and other physical activities are often prescribed to help keep the limbs active.