Encouraging Information about Multiple Sclerosis
MS is not contagious, and in most cases, does not shorten one’s life expectancy. Some individuals, particularly those who are significantly inactive, may experience the typical complications of a prolonged chronic illness, such as infection or pneumonia.
However, with the treatments that are available today, more and more people with MS are able to live a full lifespan, while fewer and fewer experience severe disability. Living a healthy lifestyle, under the direction of your doctor in terms of diet, exercise, preventative healthcare, and not smoking, can help you to feel your best.
Since the early 1990s, many long-term treatments and symptom-management therapies have become available – which makes living with MS more controllable and comfortable.
Research is ongoing around the world with many new, promising treatments on the way. Several new disease-modifying therapies are either under review by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or are currently in clinical trials for eventual submission to the FDA, with the hope of receiving approval for the long-term treatment of MS.
MSAA is available to provide a number of vital programs and services. In addition to MSAA’s extensive website, these include: valuable and compassionate phone consultation through MSAA’s Helpline Specialists; informative and motivational publications, webinars, videos, and podcasts; MRI assistance; cooling products; safety and mobility equipment; and shared decision-making tools.
Shared decision-making tools help to encourage individuals with MS to take an active role in the management of their MS, alongside their healthcare team. Examples include: MSAA’s Ultimate MS Treatment Guide, a comprehensive online tool comparing all of the FDA-approved MS treatments and featuring medical experts as well as patient advocates and My MS Manager™, a free mobile phone application to track disease activity, store medical information, and generate reports, while providing the ability to connect to physicians and one’s healthcare team.
MSAA also has a blog, “MS Conversations,” featuring timely, interactive discussions of topics that are important to the entire MS community. Additionally, MSAA offers a peer-to-peer online forum, My MSAA Community, for individuals with MS and care partners to share information and experiences.