You can schedule an appointment with our neurology team by calling 617-525-6550 or by submitting a request through our secure online form. We're here to support you every step of the way.
If you experience symptoms of MS, contact your physician for a thorough medical evaluation. Because multiple sclerosis is a complex condition, a simple test can’t determine if you have the disease. However, an early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can help slow the progression and improve long-term outcomes.
A multiple sclerosis diagnosis involves a comprehensive overview of your medical history and a series of neurological and diagnostic tests to assess your symptoms and rule out other potential causes. These tests focus on areas of the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
Your physician will start with a review of your medical and family history. They’ll also want to know about your other medical conditions and medications you’re taking. Next, they’ll conduct a neurological exam to test your reflexes, coordination, balance, and vision. This exam will help identify any abnormalities or signs pointing to an MS diagnosis.
Your care team will also take blood tests for multiple sclerosis. The results of your blood work can rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. These conditions include autoimmune disorders, vitamin deficiencies, infections, and metabolic issues.
An MRI is an essential tool for diagnosing multiple sclerosis. It can detect brain or spinal cord lesions that indicate inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system. Contrast dye often gets injected intravenously to highlight the problem areas.
A lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap, collects a small sample of spinal fluid. A sample analysis can help detect abnormalities associated with MS, such as an increase in white blood cells or elevation of specific proteins. Besides multiple sclerosis, a spinal tap can also diagnose other conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, such as leukemia and meningitis.
An evoked potential test measures your brain’s electrical activity in response to specific visual and auditory stimuli. The test measures how fast electrical messages travel from your sensory nerves to the brain. Abnormalities in the test could indicate evidence of nerve damage and demyelination associated with multiple sclerosis.
This noninvasive imaging technique measures the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layers in your eyes. The OCT method applies to diagnosing multiple sclerosis because it can detect damage to the myelin and the optic nerves, both indicators of neurodegeneration in MS.
Your primary care physician can perform an initial evaluation and preliminary testing. However, if their findings suggest MS, they’ll refer you to a neurologist for further assessment. A neurologist specializes in diagnosing and treating nervous system conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord.
Various treatment options for multiple sclerosis are available. The type of treatment your neurologist recommends will depend on the type of MS, its symptoms and severity, and your overall health. Treatments include various:
Injectable multiple sclerosis medications are disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) used to treat the disease. These drugs help reduce inflammation, slow the disease’s progression, and reduce the frequency and intensity of relapses. The most common injectable MS drugs include:
There are various oral meds for MS. Oral DMTs are often used to manage relapsing forms of MS, such as relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Common oral MS drugs are:
These intravenous drugs distribute the medicine directly into your bloodstream. Infusion therapy can reduce relapses and increase remission time between flare-ups. These medications include:
Another treatment option involves anti-inflammatory medications that reduce nerve inflammation and alleviate symptoms of a relapse. The most common corticosteroids used to treat MS relapses are prednisone and methylprednisolone.
Your physician may recommend plasma exchange, also called plasmapheresis, if you have severe relapses that don’t respond to other multiple sclerosis treatments. In this process, plasma is removed from your blood and separated from the blood cells. A protein solution called albumin is then mixed with the blood cells and returned to your bloodstream. The purpose of the exchange is to remove harmful antibodies that contribute to symptoms of MS.
DBS is a surgical procedure where electrodes are implanted in specific areas of the brain to deliver an electrical current. These electrical impulses can impact neural activity in brain circuits that control movement. This method typically gets used to treat disorders such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and tremors. However, neurologists are investigating it as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis.
What is multiple sclerosis (MS) and what are the symptoms of MS? Learn about testing and treatment options for MS, as well as the best ways to manage symptoms and future inflammatory relapses from Kristin M. Galetta, M.D., Neurologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Michael Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Neurologist, Massachusetts General Hospital.
After an MS diagnosis, you’ll have a collaborative care team, including nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, counselors, and other specialists. Leading this team is a neurologist responsible for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring your condition.
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, various treatment options are available to help manage symptoms, reduce relapses, slow progression, and improve the overall quality of life for those diagnosed with MS.
You can develop multiple sclerosis at any age. However, the disease most commonly manifests between the ages of 20 and 40.
Researchers work continuously to develop new medications, treatments, interventions, and disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis.
While exercise can’t cure the disease, it can help you manage and alleviate symptoms. Strength training and flexibility exercises can enhance mobility and balance. Cardiovascular exercise increases stamina and reduces fatigue. Another benefit of exercise is that it can boost your mood and lower feelings of depression and anxiety.
Without treatment, MS can progress more quickly, leading to increased balance, mobility, and coordination difficulties. Symptoms will also likely be more frequent and severe, and your cognitive abilities will decline. Untreated MS can also increase your risk of developing other medical complications.
Many people with multiple sclerosis lead productive lives despite the disease’s challenges. Factors contributing to effective management of the condition include early diagnosis, regular monitoring and management of symptoms, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The Multiple Sclerosis Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is internationally recognized for providing the most advanced treatment options for people with MS. Its expert care is strengthened by a leading clinical research program at the forefront of discovery.
You can schedule an appointment with our neurology team by calling 617-525-6550 or by submitting a request through our secure online form.
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