Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It happens when your immune system attacks your brain and nerves. There is no cure, but treatment can help.
For some people, MS only has a small impact on daily life. For others it can have a much bigger impact. Symptoms may come and go and they may get worse over time.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
- feeling very tired.
- problems with your eyes or your vision.
- numbness or a tingling feeling.
- feeling off balance, dizzy or clumsy.
- muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness.
You can find out more here: Multiple sclerosis - NHS.
- Your first appointment will be with a Consultant Neurologist or a member of their team. This doctor will be an expert in MS.
- We will take a full history from you and discuss a treatment plan with you.
- We may also need to do further tests and scans. This may involve a lumbar puncture. This is where we use a thin needle to take a small sample of fluid from your lower back.
- We will talk to you about how to manage your MS symptoms. We will also discuss ways to slow down how quickly your MS develops.
- Your follow up care will be either face-to-face or via phone. We will review your care at intervals specific to your needs.
- Our specialist nurses will give you advice and support to get on with your daily life.
We will use disease modifying therapies (DMTs) to help with your MS.
DMTs will not cure your MS, but they will help reduce how often symptoms flare up. They may also help to limit long-term damage to your body.
We provide a full range of DMTs. This includes tablets that you can take, or injections that we will train you to do yourself.
You may also need an infusion of drugs. We will do this in a clinic. For some of the drugs we use, we may need to monitor your blood. Our team will arrange this.
Dr Kate Petheram and Dr Gemma Maxwell lead our MS service. They are both Consultant Neurologists who have a specialist interest in MS.
Our specialist nurses will play a vital role in your ongoing care and treatment. They work with a team of wider experts who look after people with MS. This includes:
- Dieticians and podiatrists
- Speech and language therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
- Pharmacists
- Continence experts
- Wheelchair services.
We have regular meetings with the whole team to discuss patient care.
If your MS is complex, you might see one of our consultants in Neuro-rehab. We also work closely with services at Walkergate Park if you need more specialist help.
Where can I find out more?
- Multiple Sclerosis Trust (MS Trust) – click here
- Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society) – click here
