Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Whether to continue on in your chosen field is completely up to you. Many MS patients continue to work both productively and comfortably in their respective fields. And, provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act will help ensure that reasonable accommodations are provided in your workplace, which is particularly important if and/or when disease symptoms begin to interfere with the work you're doing.

MS does not affect conception, pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Furthermore, neither pregnancy nor childbirth has an effect on a woman's level of MS-related disability. It is important, however, that women with MS who are thinking about starting a family talk with their physicians about any prescribed medications that may not be safe for use during conception or pregnancy.

Yes, although this increased risk of developing MS remains relatively small. The chance that a child of an MS parent will acquire the disease is 1 in 40, as compared to a 1 in 750 chance in the general population.

Because MS affects each person differently, there is no way to predict the outcome for individual patients. However, statistics indicate that as many as two-thirds to three-quarters of all MS patients never require a wheelchair. Still, choosing to use a mobility device (e.g., cane, motorized scooter or wheelchair) can help MS patients combat fatigue - the most common symptom of MS - by conserving energy while getting from one place to another. While no one likes the idea of using a cane or scooter, such assistive devices make life easier and allow MS patients to maintain independent, active lifestyles.

A pseudoexacerbation is a temporary aggravation of MS symptoms - including muscle weakness, tingling, spasms and vision difficulties - that have previously appeared in the patient. Typically, a pseudoexacerbation lasts 24 hours or less.

In the majority of MS patients, a pseudoexacerbation is triggered by a rise in body temperature, which, in turn, may be caused by fever (due to infection), the environment (e.g., sun exposure, a hot bath), or exercise (e.g., mowing the lawn). Once the stressor causing the rise in body temperature is removed, symptoms quickly disappear.

Though "pseudo" may seem to imply that the aggravation is "fake," the symptoms are, in fact, very real. It is important to note, however, that unlike a true exacerbation - which involves an actual worsening of the disease that may last from several days to several weeks, or longer - a pseudoexacerbation represents disease flare-up, not disease progression.

Pseudoexacerbations occur because the central nervous system doesn't operate as efficiently at higher temperatures, and therefore even the slightest rise in temperature can cause the body to mimic an MS attack. During a pseudoexacerbation, the body is essentially unmasking symptoms of a previous inflammation, causing them to reappear. To prevent a pseudoexacerbation from occurring, MS patients should take care to avoid overexertion, combine exercise with rest, and limit exposure to the sun and other hot environments (e.g., whirlpool baths).

Currently, all immunomodulating agents (Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif and Copaxone) are injectables. However, some of the immunosuppressant agents (CellCept, Imuran) can be given orally. Immunosuppressants are often used in combination with an immunomodulating agent in patients with more advanced disease symptoms. There are oral medications in the process of being studied.

All current immunomodulating agents are effective, producing approximately a 30 percent decrease in the relapse rate. So far, there has been no study with a head-to-head comparison of all four drugs available. Therefore, it is impossible to know if any of the agents is better than the others. In order to select the best drug for an individual patient, we take into account several factors, including degree of disease activity and side effect profile, as well as the patient's own preference. Having an open discussion with your MS specialist will help establish the best treatment for you.

Yes. In the initial phases of the secondary-progressive form of MS, when patients are still having exacerbations, the combination of immunomodulating and immunosuppressive agents can be helpful. No specific treatment has proven effective in the late stages of secondary-progressive MS, however, Lahey is currently participating in a trial.

So far, no treatment has proved effective for patients with this form of MS. However, you can join one of several ongoing research trials.

Currently, several research trials using experimental or known MS-approved drugs are ongoing, and you can participate if you wish. Our Web site is frequently updated with information on research trials being conducted at Lahey. You can also check with one of our MS specialists or nurses about any research studies that apply to your specific case. We keep an updated list of all MS research going on around the country.