Multidisciplinary Approach Provides Expertise in the Management of Neurological Diseases!

Mayo Clinic Adoptes Multidisciplinary Management Pratices.

The Mayo Clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to the management of neurological diseases which includes Multiple Sclerosis. With the approach that the Mayo Clinic has adopted patients can be assured that their needs will be met efficiently and that there will be support all throughout the process. Additionally this approach allows for a patient to receive an accurate and timely diagnoses, this is important in order to create and implement a treatment plan that will begin to improve the patient’s life. The Mayo Clinic takes a two pronged approach when treating patients with MS, not only do they manage the symptom of MS but they treat the disease before symptoms are caused from permanent damage.
The Mayo Clinic uses several different medications when it comes to treating MS and its symptoms. One of these is beta interferons, beta interferons are genetically engineered copies of proteins that occur naturally in the body. Just as there is not a lot known on what causes MS there is not a lot known about exactly how beta interferons reduce flare-ups and what long term benefits may exist but they have been shown to work well for many patients. There are two types of beta interferons, interferon beta-1a (Avonex & Rebif) and interferon beta-1b (Betaseron), all three medications are administered by self-injection. I am currently using Betaseron and have not as of yet noticed any improvement, of course I have only been using the drug for less than three months and I am sure it takes more time for the drug to begin working. There can be some small side effects, mainly injection site reaction and flu like symptoms; I however only experienced the flu like symptoms mildly and for a few weeks and I encountered no injection site reactions. Both types of interferons have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but only for patients who have relapsing forms of MS. Additionally interferons do not reverse the disease nor have they been proven to prevent patients from becoming permanently disabled.
Glatiramer is a substitute for interferons, and just as effective, that is also prescribed for patients but only those with relapsing-remitting MS. As with interferons Glatiramer is self-injected and can have side effects, these include shortness of breath after administering the drug and flushing.
The use of these medications is just one part of the Mayo Clinic’s treatment arsenal; they are used to specifically treat MS itself and not the symptoms of MS. In order to treat the symptoms of MS the Mayo Clinic employs the use of medications such medication as corticosteroids which are used to reduce the inflammation that occurs in nerve tissue and reduce the length of flare-ups. Side effects can occur after prolonged use, namely high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
To treat the muscle spasms or stiffening that many MS patients experience, the Mayo Clinic uses both tizanidine (Zanaflex) and baclofen (Lioresal). Both medications are taken orally and have their own specific side effects, tizanidine can often leave the patient with increased leg weakness and baclofen can cause dry mouth as well as drowsiness.
Many if not all MS patients experience one degree or another of fatigue, for me this is one of my worst symptoms and one I deal with every day. To treat fatigue the Mayo clinic may use an antiviral drug named amantadine (Symmetrel) or a medication used to treat narcolepsy called modafinil (Provigil). Both of these have stimulating properties which is what seems to help with a patients fatigue.
Additionally other medications related to specific symptoms that are experienced by MS patients are used as part of the Mayo Clinic’s management plan. Medications are used to treat such symptoms as pain and depression as well as bladder and bowel control problems. The Mayo Clinic’s patient management plan also includes physical and occupational therapies, meant to preserve independence, counseling, to help patients and their families cope with having MS and special therapies such as the plasma exchange procedure that has been developed by the Clinic’s researchers.
In conclusion, The Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary approach to managing diseases like MS provides an exceptional experience for those patients who are visiting the clinic. Thanks to researchers like those at the Mayo Clinic new approaches for managing and treating MS and other neurological diseases are leading to a better life for millions of people and their families.

James Bishop April, 2009

Multidisciplinary approach provides expertise in the management of neurological diseases!

The Mayo Clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to the management of neurological diseases which includes Multiple Sclerosis. With the approach that the Mayo Clinic has adopted patients can be assured that their needs will be met efficiently and that there will be support all throughout the process. Additionally this approach allows for a patient to receive an accurate and timely diagnoses, this is important in order to create and implement a treatment plan that will begin to improve the patient’s life. The Mayo Clinic takes a two pronged approach when treating patients with MS, not only do they manage the symptom of MS but they treat the disease before symptoms are caused from permanent damage.
The Mayo Clinic uses several different medications when it comes to treating MS and its symptoms. One of these is beta interferons, beta interferons are genetically engineered copies of proteins that occur naturally in the body. Just as there is not a lot known on what causes MS there is not a lot known about exactly how beta interferons reduce flare-ups and what long term benefits may exist but they have been shown to work well for many patients. There are two types of beta interferons, interferon beta-1a (Avonex & Rebif) and interferon beta-1b (Betaseron), all three medications are administered by self-injection. I am currently using Betaseron and have not as of yet noticed any improvement, of course I have only been using the drug for less than three months and I am sure it takes more time for the drug to begin working. There can be some small side effects, mainly injection site reaction and flu like symptoms; I however only experienced the flu like symptoms mildly and for a few weeks and I encountered no injection site reactions. Both types of interferons have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but only for patients who have relapsing forms of MS. Additionally interferons do not reverse the disease nor have they been proven to prevent patients from becoming permanently disabled.
Glatiramer is a substitute for interferons, and just as effective, that is also prescribed for patients but only those with relapsing-remitting MS. As with interferons Glatiramer is self-injected and can have side effects, these include shortness of breath after administering the drug and flushing.
The use of these medications is just one part of the Mayo Clinic’s treatment arsenal; they are used to specifically treat MS itself and not the symptoms of MS. In order to treat the symptoms of MS the Mayo Clinic employs the use of medications such medication as corticosteroids which are used to reduce the inflammation that occurs in nerve tissue and reduce the length of flare-ups. Side effects can occur after prolonged use, namely high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
To treat the muscle spasms or stiffening that many MS patients experience, the Mayo Clinic uses both tizanidine (Zanaflex) and baclofen (Lioresal). Both medications are taken orally and have their own specific side effects, tizanidine can often leave the patient with increased leg weakness and baclofen can cause dry mouth as well as drowsiness.
Many if not all MS patients experience one degree or another of fatigue, for me this is one of my worst symptoms and one I deal with every day. To treat fatigue the Mayo clinic may use an antiviral drug named amantadine (Symmetrel) or a medication used to treat narcolepsy called modafinil (Provigil). Both of these have stimulating properties which is what seems to help with a patients fatigue.
Additionally other medications related to specific symptoms that are experienced by MS patients are used as part of the Mayo Clinic’s management plan. Medications are used to treat such symptoms as pain and depression as well as bladder and bowel control problems. The Mayo Clinic’s patient management plan also includes physical and occupational therapies, meant to preserve independence, counseling, to help patients and their families cope with having MS and special therapies such as the plasma exchange procedure that has been developed by the Clinic’s researchers.
In conclusion, The Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary approach to managing diseases like MS provides an exceptional experience for those patients who are visiting the clinic. Thanks to researchers like those at the Mayo Clinic new approaches for managing and treating MS and other neurological diseases are leading to a better life for millions of people and their families.

James Bishop April, 2009