Exercise and MS

Besides improving mobility and strength, exercise therapy improves daily living, quality of life, and even the mood of MSers who participate.

What about fatigue? There is a theory that aerobic exercise might fight fatigue even though exercise usually heats up the body, and for MSers heat often results in fatigue. Hmm. Sounds like a vicious circle. Maybe not.

The University of Buffalo is researching that very question. Their study will determine "the effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise program on fitness, core and skin temperature, and heat flux in MS patients."

And here's something for everyone to consider. What you eat after aerobic exercise makes a difference in the benefits you get.

Be careful, stay cool, eat right, and stay fit!

Ampyra Approved!

Today Ampyra received FDA approval.

This therapy by Acorda Therapeutics increases walking speed in the four major MS types - RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, and PRMS.

Ampyra is in tablet form, previously known as fampridine. It is being developed in the US by Acorda Therapeutics, the company that works with zanaflex, and outside the US by Biogen Idec.

Ampyra is expected to be commercially available by March of this year. Read the press release.

Two Ideas

Michael B. Gerber has some clever ideas and observations that help us think outside the box. Here are two posts that do just that:

It can be done
Michael tells us a marching band from a blind school reminded him for something to be done, the idea must come to someone who then shares it. He asks us each to ask ourselves "What can I do?" When you have an answer, share it. It may be the beginning of something important.


The Story of an MSer taking a Skydive
I have been thinking about this since I first read it, falling, not soaring. Almost everyone I know really like it whether they can describe it or not. This is not in my bucket, but I am glad he did it and shared the experience with us.

I was struck by the fact that they were not just willing to accommodate him — they were ready and experienced to accommodate people with disabilities! What does this mean? It is not unusual for a person with a disability to take advantage of their service. How great is that!? If it can be done for skydiving, it can be done for many, many other activities.

Thanks for sharing, Michael, and Congratulations on your jump.

In a comment by Andriana she wondered “if our minds disable us from going/doing beyond the norm.” I believe, and I know I am not alone, that the brain IS the biggest personal disabler in people with and without disabilities. Are you feeling your disability excludes you from an exciting activity? Check it out.

Oral Medication

Okay, pills for MS are not yet available, but they are coming soon. Soon is a word we hear about medical trials quite often. We do not know exactly when soon means, but we are closer than ever before.

There are five, yes, five different possibilities of oral medications in trials at this time. The first two approved will probably be cladrbrine and fingolimad. Familiar names — coming soon to a pharmacist near you.

Many of us with MS have been waiting for these two oral medications to reach the market. When it happens, I hope there are plenty of pills and that they make a difference in our lives!

My Card for You

For the Christmas Tree, Garry used IFL Labs software for the fractal and Jasc animation software for the animation.

Pioneers in Research

The University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) is one of 23 schools nationwide to receive a grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), called Med to Grad, helping Ph.D students learn to move laboratory research to clinical trials.

Dr. Helen Yin started the program at UTSW, calling the participating students pioneers.

"This major grant from HHMI is a creative initiative that highlights the fundamental linkage among our core missions of education, research and patient care," said Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, president of UT Southwestern. "It will significantly further out highest priorities as an academic medical center committed to biomedical research and its translation into innovative patient care."

Research Studies

Want to volunteer for a medical research study?

UT Soutwestern sent a press release about ResearchMatch where volunteers can be matched — online — to a scientific research project, or clinical trial, for which they might qualify. The National Institute of Health gave UT Southwestern a grant to help quickly move laboratory discoveries into actual therapies.

This new allows the medical community "to cast a wider net into a deeper pool of potential subjects.” Both healthy people and those with illnesses and conditions can take advantage of this opportunity!

MS and Evils

One of my favorite online friends Michael B. Gerber doesn't write in his blog about MS, he writes about life. His happens to be a life with MS, so MS sneaks in there now and again. You may notice his blog "Perspective Is Everything" in my "Favorite MSer Sites" list.

Last week Michael sent me a story about medication and side effects. He asked if I had something to add, but it was good, as his writing is. I did, however, manage to throw in a word or two and make a change here or there. Read our post here: The Lesser of Two Evils

His is a blog certainly worth reading. While you're there, look around. Enjoy.

Pain and MS, Yes, It Hurts

I wrote a series of articles for Health Central on Pain and MS, covering the types of pain and treatments. These are general, just to give you an idea. I am sure there are some pains as well as some treatments that have been left out. Please let me know! The best idea is to talk with your doctor about any pain and how to treat it. Here is the article series —

Pain and MS

Is MS painless? When I was first diagnosed with MS, it was common for the MS literature to refer to it as a painless disease. I was dealing with a new diagnosis of a disease I did not yet understand and was wondering what else was wrong with me. Articles said MS didn't bring pain, but I was in pain. Many MSers know that... Read more

Pain and MS: Neuropathic Pain

There is pain in MS. It can be acute or chronic, generally categorized as neuropathic, musculoskeletal, or tertiary. Let's begin looking at details. Sometimes the nervous system does not function properly, and it actually becomes the cause of pain. Neuropathic (nervous disease) pain is the most common kind in MS. That... Read more

Pain and MS: Musculoskeletal Pain

There is pain in multiple sclerosis, with several categories that can be acute or chronic. My last article discussed neuropathic pain. Today, I am going to talk about details specific to musculoskeletal pain. Our musculoskeletal system -- bones, muscles, connective tissues -- provides our bodies with stability and movement.... Read more

Pain and MS: Tertiary Pain

It has been established that there is pain in MS. I have talked about neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain, which is generally considered secondary pain. Now it is time to talk about tertiary pain. Tertiary pain can be broadly defined as the social, vocational and psychological complications brought on by the primary and secondary symptoms.It... Read more

Pain and MS: MS Plus

If you have MS, pain may be a large part of it. What happens when someone has MS plus another disorder that may cause pain. Are you at risk for other pain-causing conditions? I know - you have MS, isn't the MS enough? MS is enough, but life isn't fair, and contracting one condition does not reduce the chance of contracting another. Many blogs and... Read more

Pain and MS: Treatment

There is pain in MS. This series of articles has discussed that pain -- Neuropathic, Musculoskeletal, Tertiary, and MS Plus. Once the fact of pain has been accepted, the remaining question is how can that pain be stopped or reduced. Today, I am going to talk about traditional treatments for each of those pains discussed in the earlier posts. The... Read more

MS and Pain: Alternative Therapies

MS pain can be excruciating, frequent, inconvenient or heavy unending dullness. There are many traditional treatments that help to alleviate those pains. However, they don't always work and there is always someone who can't or just doesn't want to take too much medication. Some MSers are ready to try anything -- just to make the pain stop.Today, I... Read more

Pain and MS: Living with Pain

"The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it." ~C.C. Scott Today, I am concluding the series on pain in MS. Earlier, I talked about the fact that, until recently, pain was not even recognized as part of MS. Then I went into common types of pain, and both conventional and alternative treatments. Now it's time to find a... Read more

technorati tags: , Select, Tags... SaveCancel, downthenmspath, disability, ms, multiplesclerosis, medicine, Vicki, mstreatment, msresearch, MSAwareness, primaryprogressivems, chronicprogressivems, secondaryprogressivems

Biking for MS

The National MS Society sponsors 100 bike events to raise funds for MS. All of the participating bikers have one destination — A World Free from MS! Sounds like a place I would like to go there one day. How about you?


My friend, my college roommate many years ago, has a friend who was ready to bike, so she dedicated her ride to me. We met only online. Georgia sent these fabulous pictures of her with her New Orleans team on their ride. Unfortuneately, they were unable to complete the ride as scheduled because of Louisiana's famous weather. Too bad.

They had fun and MS appreciates their contribution. Thanks, Georgia Kobos Thomas!