Since the beginning of time, people have been using their own personal remedies to treat illnesses and even disease. There have been secret family medications and potions sold in bottles by roadside peddlers. There are old wives tales about chicken soup for colds, drinking water upside down for hiccups, and honey for sore throats. Simply put, for every researched drug and therapy on the market for one single disease, there are probably ten natural or familial remedies. It comes as no surprise then that a California man is attesting to the healing properties of jellyfish…
According to The Examiner, Josh Sheldon of Fremont, California took the advice of a friend and began studying the impact of jellyfish protein on Multiple Sclerosis, which he suffered from. He was so impressed with the results that he was involved in a press release about jellyfish and multiple sclerosis. He was diagnosed with the condition in 2008 and the debilitating effects were very difficult on him. The disease not only brings about physical pain and limits a person’s ability to walk, but also mental anguish in dealing with the day to day problems that the condition causes. Josh decided to begin a regimen of jellyfish protein manufactured by a Wisconsin firm, Quincy Bioscience. The protein is made to restore a calcium balance in the body common in neurodegentive diseases and age related problems.
The results were immediate and life altering. According to his press release and The Examiner, after only four weeks Josh began feeling a difference, especially in relief from pain in his skin. He noted that every day the pain decreased while he continued to improve physically, being able to walk with better coordination and little stumbling. He also found that he had sensation in his limbs, rather than a tingling feeling. The protein also gave him the ability to button his shirts, which was a task that had eluded him since his diagnosis. Overall, the jellyfish health supplement has allowed Josh to feel like himself again, both mentally and physically.
Despite my disappointment that actual jellyfish were not used in this treatment option, it is interesting to think that something that already exists in nature may be a cure and viable therapy for multiple sclerosis. One may wonder, however, if this treatment will be recognized by an Administrative Law Judge in a Social Security Disability Benefits hearing. It is likely that as long as the treatment is discussed and recorded by your physician, a Judge will probably take this unorthodox treatment into consideration.
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Filed under Alternative MS Treatment, MS in the news by on May 26th, 2010. Comment. 
What if you could really know what was going on in your doctor’s head regarding your specific illness? What if you could find out what medications he or she really supported for your treatment and which ones he or she had reservations about? What if you could compare your treatment options with those of your peers who live with the same condition? Well, now you can have all of those answers at your fingertips without having to grill your doctor. BioTrends, a market research firm, has compiled responses from approximately one hundred neurologists about treatment options for multiple sclerosis, including pros and cons, patients who respond best and worst, and whether they expect to use particular products in the future. They also answered questions about certain products that are in the research stages and discussed which ones they believe have the most promise. This new report, detailing the neurologists’ answers, is called Treatment Trends: Multiple Sclerosis.
The neurologists confirmed that they are most likely to prescribe the drug Tysabri, among all other medications on the market. This confirmation also indicated that there had actually been an increase in the prescription of this particular drug. The doctors did report, however, that they are still hesitant about using Tysabri or expanding its use due to concerns that taking the drug may lead to the development of Progressive Multifocal Leukoncephalopathy, which is a disabling and deadly disease caused by a virus. They also noted that because of the risks associated with Tysabri, the neurologists often encourage their patients to take a break from using the drug.
Additionally, the report notes that approximately one-third of the neurologists have prescribed the new drug Ampyra, which is used to help multiple sclerosis patients walk better. What’s more is that about half of those not currently using the drug expect to within the next six months. The neurologists were also excited about using the highly anticipated oral medications, including Gilenia. In fact, they remarked that this area was in the greatest need of development for the disease. They also want to see medications and therapies that actually reduce the progression of the disease.
Reading a report such as this one by BioTrends can help you to better understand your disease and any medications that you are taking. It may help you to make informed decisions and have a knowledgeable conversation with your health care provider. Even though your doc has the medical degree, it is important for you to be an advocate for yourself and ask any questions you may have regarding medication, risks, and what is in development. Hopefully, this and other reports will help multiple sclerosis sufferers to approach their disability and their doctors with confidence.
Filed under MS Treatment by on May 26th, 2010. Comment.
It is no question, Multiple Sclerosis is considered to be a debilitating disease. The symptoms of this disease include cognitive impairment, staggering, blurred vision, poor balance, and altered sensations (such as electric shock or the feeling of pins and needles).
Usually with this illness, the symptoms tend to develop over a period of time. There are some patients who experience periods of remission. This can be an issue in a Social Security case. This is because the SSA looks for an exact onset date for a claimant’s disability (i.e. at exactly what point did the disability begin?). In a MS case, it can be tough to pinpoint that onset date since you may have had alternating periods of okay times mixed with times of flare-ups and difficulty.
In a publication produced by the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), there was once an article about a woman who suffered from MS.
The woman experienced her initial debilitating episode of MS back in 1998. This is when she was diagnosed with MS and this is when she stopped working. But as the next few years went by, she only suffered from minor episodes. Then, in February of 2003, she experienced a major flare-up.
In December of 2001, the woman’s insured status for Title II Disability had expired. In September, 2002 the woman applied for SSDI and claimed that her onset date was April, 1998 – the time of her first major MS episode. But Her MS disability case was denied because the SSA noticed that her condition improved after April, 1998, and she could have theoretically returned to the workplace
Fortunately, the woman appealed this decision and won. She appealed on the basis that MS is a disease consisting of periods of flare-ups and remission, and that even though she had some good periods, she was still disabled by the condition. The appeals court sided with the woman because the ALJ was wrong for placing undue reliance upon the short temporary intermission of the plaintiff’s increasingly disabling disease.
Another reason she may have initially lost is because the Judge may not have considered all the evidence. Often times, the SSA judges fail to evaluate medical evidence for treatment following the claimant’s date last insured for Title II. Which means in this case, the Judge may have only looked at evidence up to September of 2002.
Filed under MS Case Strategies by on May 4th, 2010. Comment.
There has been a lot in the news lately about statin drugs being used to treat high cholesterol in many individuals. They prevent cholesterol from being produced in the liver and also prevent cholesterol from entering the bloodstream. Some people believe that statins are being over prescribed, though, and that they do not really provide a great benefit to people. Still, others argue that they truly help with inflammation and prevent the cholesterol from rising and causing additional harm. But why are we discussing cholesterol drugs in a multiple sclerosis blog? Well, a new study has found that cholesterol drugs such as statins may not only help lower a person’s cholesterol, but may also be a helpful treatment option for multiple sclerosis.
According to Drug Watch, researchers conducted a study with eighty-one participants who had been diagnosed with early-stage multiple sclerosis. The researchers randomly assigned half of the group to receive a dose of Lipitor, a popular statin, while the other half received a placebo. At the end of the study, the researchers found that over half of the participants taking the Lipitor did not develop any new multiple sclerosis brain lesions. For those taking the placebo, only thirty percent reported no new lesions. The results seem to indicate that there is a mechanism in the statin drug that impacts a person’s neurology. The study is even more interesting because it was conducted over a year, thereby truly validating the results.
Of course, additional studies will need to be conducted regarding just how these statins may impact multiple sclerosis and what, if any, side effects the drugs may cause in patients. Furthermore, since this study only dealt with a specific statin, it will likely be important that other statins are tested to see if their effects are the same. As there is currently no cure for the disease and it effects millions of people, uncovering a treatment option that may stave off further neurological impairment would be wonderful. If you currently have multiple sclerosis and are on statin drugs for high cholesterol you may want to ask your doctor about cross treating the disease. It is possible that he could monitor new growths on your brain depending on the dosage of statins that you are taking. It would be great if you could take one pill that both lowers your cholesterol, thereby protecting your heart, while also lower the incidence of brain lesions, thereby protecting your brain.
Filed under MS Treatment, Medical research by on Apr 29th, 2010. Comment.
It is always exciting when a new medication is posed to come out on the market. There is a sense of hopefulness that this will be the treatment option that will work best for whatever condition ails you. What is even better and more exciting is when the drug is the first of its kind for a particular disease or illness. The newest medication to reach these ranks is drug maker Novartis’s oral medication for multiple sclerosis, Gilenia. This drug is the first of its kind for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and it is backed by a tremendous reduction rate for relapses of the disabling condition.
The drug, which is administered orally, was found to reduce relapses of multiple sclerosis by sixty-two percent in newly diagnosed patients, according to the American Academy of Neurology. Relapses were reduced by forty-four percent in patients who had already been diagnosed with the disorder. Moreover, additional data has shown that individuals taking Gilenia over a two year period had significant reductions in relapses, as well as brain lesions. This data was compared to patients who were taking a more traditional beta blocker before switching to Gildenia.
The drug, however, is not without its concerns. Reuters reports that Gildenia and its oral equivalent made by Merck may have serious complications on the immune system, as well as other challenging side effects. It will be up to these companies to minimize these risks, as well as show that the benefits of the drug far outweigh any potential problems. The possible side effects, however, are being taken seriously by the Food and Drug Administration, which has requested an advisory meeting to evaluate these risks and the product.
The company and the medical community remain optimistic, however, that this drug will be on the market sooner rather than later. They believe that its superior results and the convenience of being able to take it orally will greatly boost the drug’s positive aspects. It would be nice for the millions of multiple sclerosis sufferers to have an option to take a drug by mouth, rather than having to schedule a doctor’s appointment for treatment. Additionally, with such a fantastic success rate, it will likely provide relief to many individuals who thus far have been through numerous treatment options with no change in their condition.
Filed under MS Treatment, Medical research by on Apr 22nd, 2010. Comment.
One of the most difficult aspects of living with an autoimmune disease is figuring out what treatment option works best for a particular individual. With no cure, most people find themselves trying a variety of therapies to find one that works best. What is more is that sometimes a medication will be working well, and then it suddenly stops becoming as effective. Individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease impacting millions of people around the world, also have to deal with occasional flare ups. These flare ups mean that the disorder could go into remission for a bit and then suddenly, and without warning, reappear. This makes it even more difficult to find out if a medication is actually working. In an effort to reduce these difficulties, researchers at Stanford University believe that it may be possible to predict which multiple sclerosis patients will respond favorably to a popular multiple sclerosis medication and which ones will not.
What makes this discovery even more exciting is that if a person’s blood work shows that he would not be a viable candidate for treatment with beta-interferon, then he would not have to endure the side effects of the drug, including debilitating flu-like symptoms. Living with multiple sclerosis is hard enough without having to then suffer with a medication’s complicated side effects. The Stanford research team found that a routine blood test could identify which patients would benefit from taking the beta-interferon injectible. Although this particular popular medication is helpful at reducing relapses in multiple sclerosis patients, it may produce side effects that that may dissuade a person from taking it correctly. This current study may be able to show that the drug is even more effective than previously thought if it is used with people who can actually benefit.
The researchers are currently applying for a patent for a blood test that would verify which patients would benefit from beta-interferon medication and which ones would not. It is important to note, however, that despite this exciting research, there is still no cure for multiple sclerosis. This means that even if you were identified as a responder, you could still experience a relapse of the disease and could still be considered disabled for purposes of working. The medication may improve your quality of life for awhile, but unfortunately, the disease never completely disappears. If you currently take a beta-interferon for your multiple sclerosis symptoms and it does not appear to be working, discuss other options with your doctor and also ask about this revolutionary blood testing to determine whether you are a responder or not.
Filed under Living with MS, MS Treatment, Medical research by on Apr 16th, 2010. Comment.
In a previous post, we discussed the beneficial effects of Vitamin D on the management and maybe even prevention of multiple sclerosis. Specifically, we talked about how pregnant mothers who consumed a lot of Vitamin D when pregnant were less likely to have children who developed the condition. Vitamin D has long been touted as a supplement that can decrease the likelihood of a person eventually suffering from multiple sclerosis. This hypothesis was further shored up by the evidence that the condition is quite rare in tropical regions because people are exposed to a great deal of sunlight, and thereby Vitamin D. Conversely, multiple sclerosis is more prevalent where the sun shines less often, such as northern parts of North America and Europe. Although many scientists believe it is the Vitamin D that prevents the onset, no actual link between the two has been proven. Now, researchers believe that it is not the Vitamin D, but rather the ultraviolet rays from the sun that prevent a person from developing multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison injected mice with a protein that produced a type of myelin damage that is responsible for the creation of multiple sclerosis in humans. They also exposed some of the mice to UV rays before and after the injection, while another group received no UV exposure. According to Science News, the mice who received the UV exposure suppressed the development of multiple sclerosis type symptoms, despite an inadequate amount of Vitamin D. The other mice did not fare as well. Next, the researchers actually injected some mice with Vitamin D without UV exposure. They found that this injection without radiation did not decrease the odds of developing multiple sclerosis, nor slowing its progression. The researchers concluded that the UV exposure must be responsible for delaying or preventing the onset of multiple sclerosis, apart from Vitamin D supplementation.
Although the research team believed they found a link between UV rays and the prevention of multiple sclerosis, they are still uncertain as to how the actual mechanism works. They indicate that further studies will be needed to see exactly how UV exposure works and whether it influences any other areas of the body’s health. They do not wholly denounce the role of Vitamin D in fighting multiple sclerosis; however, the team does want to understand how each of these environmental factors work and how future treatment and preventive measures may be discovered. It appears that there is no doubt that some moderate sunlight will help those who live with multiple sclerosis, whether it is through the UV exposure or Vitamin D. Talk with your doctor about how you can get some additional sun exposure safely.
Filed under Medical research by on Apr 1st, 2010. Comment.
You may have heard about the various games and tactics used to combat the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory loss disorders. People are often encouraged to constantly test their brains, whether it is through crossword puzzles, trivia games, or other mentally challenging activities. Now, there is an exciting way to train the brain that can improve cognition and memory in multiple sclerosis patients. CogniFit Personal Coach is a type of brain training software that provides a baseline assessment of cognitive abilities, which are most affected by aging. Then, it creates a personal training program for a specific end user, so that no two programs are exactly alike. It is based on neuro-cognitive research, and during a recent study, the program was shown to increase multiple sclerosis sufferers’ cognition and overall health.
Published in the journal Neuro-Rehabilitation, the study examined the effects of the software on two groups of multiple sclerosis patients. One group used the CogniFit program for twenty to thirty minutes three times a week for twelve weeks. The other group, the control group, did not use the system at all. Those using the CogniFit program showed a remarkable increase in their memory skills, exhibiting a twenty-one percent increase in general memory, a twenty percent increase in visual working memory, and a twenty percent increase in the verbal-auditory working memory. All of these increases were above and beyond those experienced by the non-training group. The training group also saw increases in cognitive abilities in naming speed, short term memory, focused attention, and speed of object recall, among others. What is even more impressive, however, is that almost seventy-one percent of the training group stuck with the program through the completion of twelve weeks. This is especially important because multiple sclerosis often results in severe fatigue, and many treatment options may be halted due to a person’s overall tiredness.
The Head of Cognitive Science at CogniFit remarked that, “While patients in the cognitive training group were significantly improving vital cognitive functions using an enjoyable cognitive intervention at home, in the control group cognitive growth was often non-existent.” This software is a very exciting advancement in home-based personalized medicine. Rather than having to go to a health care professional, people with multiple sclerosis can simply click on the software from the comfort of their own homes, on their own time. It is also exciting because multiple sclerosis radically alters a person’s cognitive abilities, and to date, there is no cure for the disorder, only treatments to lessen the pain associated with it. With CogniFit, however, people can actually treat the heart of the condition, which will hopefully increase their quality of life overall. If you would like to learn more about the software, you can visit www.cognifit.com .
Filed under MS Treatment by on Mar 19th, 2010. Comment.
It is always refreshing to see evidence of a traditional treatment option continuously improving the lives of those living with a chronic illness. Most of the time, we are reading about studies of what therapies may work and what new side effects or diseases a debilitating condition could later produce. This past month, however, the journal, Multiple Sclerosis, published data from a fifteen year clinical study of the drug, Copaxone. The drug, which is a glatiramer acetate injection, showed great promise in continuously reducing relapses and their frequency in multiple sclerosis patients. It is produced by Teva Pharmaceuticals, who funded this study, which was the longest and continuous examination of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
The study focused on patients who had lived with multiple sclerosis for an average of twenty-two years. The injection of the drug was taken per dosing instructions and on a regular, scheduled basis. The researchers found that more than eight percent of patients were still able to walk without assistance over the course of the fifteen year study. Additionally, they found that two thirds of the participants had not transitioned to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Those who had been active in the study the longest also showed a decline in relapses of the disease. Although this study is important as far as demonstrating the effectiveness of Copaxone in those living with multiple sclerosis, the data also shows the safety of the drug. Throughout the study, the researchers found that the most common side effects of the drug were injection-site reactions and minimal post-injection reactions. The primary investigator of the study, Corey Ford, M.D., Ph.D. summed up the study, saying, “This study is important for the MS community as it further confirms the benefits of continuous long-term use of Copaxone® and its ability to effectively slow the natural progression of this disease. It is encouraging to see such long-term results that further support the well-established benefit-to-risk profile of this treatment relevant to a life-long disease.”
This study, in its nineteenth year, was so effective that it has been extended to continue to its twentieth year. It is likely that this data will have a strong effect on the multiple sclerosis community. This drug appears to have a long lasting effect on the quality of life of multiple sclerosis sufferers, while limiting exposure to unsightly side effects of taking an injection. Simply knowing that a drug has a good track history of preventing relapses and improving daily living is reason enough to ask your doctor about this treatment option. It is encouraging to read such a study, but even more fulfilling to be one of its positive statistics.
Filed under MS Treatment, Medical research by on Mar 5th, 2010. Comment.
In December, we discussed a possible association between individuals exhibiting chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and the development of multiple sclerosis. At the time, there was one small study on the condition, which appeared to indicate a positive correlation between the two. Now, in the first blinded study on the occurrence, University of Buffalo neurology researchers have also discovered a definite association.
The study began at the University of Buffalo in April 2009, and consisted of five hundred individuals, both children and adults, who were grouped based on various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, clinically isolated syndrome, and other neurological diseases. Approximately ninety-seven percent were adults and two hundred eighty individuals suffered from multiple sclerosis. To date, this is the largest group of multiple sclerosis participants examined for this particular correlation. There was also a control group, consisting of one hundred sixty healthy people.
Each of the participants underwent a Doppler ultrasound scan of their neck and head, in various positions to determine the direction of the venous blood flow. Additionally, the multiple sclerosis patients underwent MRI scans to determine the amount of iron deposits present in lesions and other areas surrounding the brain. This examination is known as susceptibility weighted imaging, and the iron measured in these findings area associated with a person’s disability and neuropsychological symptoms. Further, the Doppler scan reported on five specific criteria that were associated with venous blood flow. If an individual met two of the criteria, he was found to have CCSVI.
Using these criteria, the researchers found that fifty-six percent of the individuals with multiple sclerosis also exhibited signs of CCSVI. This percentage does not include those participants whose results were borderline and therefore submitted in the “normal” or no venous insufficiency group. If that group were excluded, the number showing signs of CCSVI and multiple sclerosis rose to sixty-two percent, with twenty-five percent as healthy control participants. These results of such a large group seem to indicate that there is a positive correlation between CCSVI and multiple sclerosis. The researchers, though excited, are also cautious about the findings. They realize that more research needs to be conducted and more advanced diagnostic tools should be used. In fact, they are planning another study of five hundred participants in the near future.
So, what does this study mean for those with multiple sclerosis or those with risk factors that may lead to developing the condition? The researchers hypothesize that the narrowing of the veins restricts the normal blood flow from the brain, which alters the blood flow in the brain, leading to brain tissue abnormalities and degeneration of the neurons. People may begin to have scans or ultrasounds done to look for this risk factor. Also, by knowing a possible cause for the disease, doctors and researchers may be better equipped to develop a cure and treatment options. Furthermore, by submitting to a scan a person may also be able to be positively diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, rather than undergoing multiple procedures to find the root of a problem. It will also provide diagnostic, objective proof of the condition, should the need arise to file a claim for social security disability benefits based on the condition. Although the scans are not prevalent at this time, this is an exciting development that we will continue to watch.
Filed under Medical research by on Feb 22nd, 2010. 3 Comments.
