Multiple Sclerosis
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). It is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. When this nerve covering is damaged by inflammation, nerve impulses are slowed down or stopped.
The trigger of the damage-causing inflammation is unknown, although many researchers believe that it be sparked by a virus, a genetic defect or a combination of the two. Studies indicate there may be an environmental factor involved.
The symptoms associated with MS vary, because the location and severity of each attack can be different. Episodes can last for days, weeks or months, and they often alternate with periods of reduced or no symptoms (remissions). However, the disease may continue to get worse without periods of remission. Also, since the nerves in any part of the brain or spinal cord may be damaged, patients with MS can have symptoms in many parts of their bodies. These symptoms include:
- Loss of balance
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness or abnormal sensation in any area
- Problems moving arms or legs
- Problems walking
- Problems with coordination and making small movements
- Tremor in one or more arms or legs
- Weakness in one or more arms or legs
- Constipation
- Stool leakage
- Difficulty beginning to urinate
- Frequent need to urinate
- Strong urge to urinate
- Incontinence
- Double vision
- Eye discomfort
- Uncontrollable rapid eye movements
- Vision loss (usually affects one eye at a time)
- Numbness, tingling or pain
- Painful muscle spasms
- Tingling, crawling or burning feeling in the arms and legs
- Decreased attention span, poor judgment and memory loss
- Difficulty reasoning and solving problems
- Depression or feelings of sadness
- Hearing loss
- Sexual problems (erectile dysfunction and/or lack of vaginal lubrication
- Slurred speech, or speech that is hard to understand
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Fatigue, which is often worse in the late afternoon.
Who is Affected?
Multiple sclerosis affects women more than men. The disorder is most commonly diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, but can be seen at any age.
People with a family history of MS, and those who live in a geographical area where MS is more common, have a slightly higher risk of the disease.
What are Options for Treatment?
At the Magaziner Center for Wellness, we conduct allergy testing on our patients with Multiple Sclerosis symptoms, as many of these symptoms are caused by what the patient is eating, drinking or breathing. If a sensitivity or allergy to a particular food substance or allergen is identified, we make modifications to his/her diet and lifestyle to eliminate the trigger of the symptom(s). We also look at the levels of heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and other neurotoxins that adversely affect the nerve cells. We detoxify the body of these substances using in-office procedures like intravenous chelation therapy that draws heavy metals out of the tissues, and biofeedback (namely Ondamed’s neurologic program) to return the body to a state of balance. We also recommend at-home therapies that include juicing, cleanses, Epsom salt soaks and skin brushing to rid the body of harmful toxins. Additionally, Vitamin D levels are monitored, as low levels have been associated with increased MS symptoms.
We often utilize intravenous vitamin infusions to decrease the inflammatory response to the immune system, as well as oral and intramuscular administration of B vitamins, as many patients with MS have low levels of B12 and Folic Acid in their cerebral spinal fluid.
Oral nutritional supplementation is also utilized at the Magaziner Center for Wellness. Specifically, we have used Calcium EAP to help nourish and improve the function of the Myelin Sheath, the layers of which are often damaged by an MS patient’s own immune system. We also recommend fish oils, which decrease inflammation, and encourage our patients to follow the SWANK MS diet, a way of eating that is low in fat and red meat and high in grains and vegetables. The SWANK diet has proven helpful to patients with MS for more than 50 years.
Each patient is treated individually so an evaluation and subsequent treatment of impaired mitochondrial function and imbalanced organic acids, fatty acids, amino acids and neurotransmitters, may help benefit a patient with MS.