Multiple Sclerosis: Fact vs. Myth Module




Fact or Myth

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There is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Your multiple sclerosis is not progressing as long as you are not experiencing any symptoms.

There is nothing you can do to control your MS.

The current treatment options for multiple sclerosis are all administered the same way.



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This is a myth

This is a fact.


Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable, and potentially disabling disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately, a cure for MS has not yet been found. However, there are options available to help manage the condition. Learn more about them from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Nerve injury due to MS can occur without causing the usual symptoms of MS. This is in part due to the wide variety of symptoms that can occur, which means everyone experiences MS differently. Also, your body can, to a certain extent, compensate for minor damages to the central nervous system, so you can feel perfectly healthy while damage is accumulating. For these reasons, you should not rely only on symptoms as a sign of disease progression. Ask your doctor about the different ways of monitoring MS.

You can help take control of your MS by starting treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) early on. Disease-modifying therapies can reduce the frequency and number of relapses, and in some cases, reduce the number and volume of active brain lesions. Disease-modifying therapies can also slow down the progression of disability. Having fewer flare-ups, particularly during the first 2 years of disease, is associated with a slower progression of disability. Speak to your doctor about whether or not disease-modifying therapies may be effective for you. Find out more about disease-modifying therapies or complete the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire to help you prepare for your doctor visit.

There are a variety of disease-modifying therapies approved for treating MS. Among them are medications that are taken orally; medications that are administered by injection at home by yourself or a family member; and medications that are administered intravenously at your local hospital or clinic. Speak to your doctor to find out more about these options and whether they are appropriate for you. Get your personalized Doctor Discussion Guide to help you prepare to visit your doctor.





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