Therapy for MS can help with the spasticity in MS patients, but sometimes this symptom needs to be treated with medications or surgery. A combination of all these treatments may be necessary to remediate muscle spasms or other symptoms of MS. The doctor has to take into consideration the severity of the situation as well as the person’s overall health before an acceptable and appropriate treatment can be suggested.
The doctor needs to find out if the spasticity is painful, whether or not it affects independence and personal care, what treatments may have already taken place, and how much the patient can afford to pay for care. Along with this, doctors consider which side effects might arise, and if the benefits of the treatment will outweigh any risks that could occur.
Physical therapy for MS patients is usually the first option doctors will try in order to treat spasticity or other issues with the muscles. Along with stretching exercises and muscle manipulation, occupational therapy is usually added as well. This type of therapy can involve bracing, splinting, or casting the limb experiencing spasticity to ensure a proper range of motion. Some of the drugs that are used to treat muscle spasms or tremors in MS patients are muscle relaxants, sleep medication, or a Botox injection into the affected muscle. Surgery is often the last resort and can involve either rhizotomy or tenotomy. Most doctors will only suggest such surgery if all other options have been exhausted.
Medication-based therapies for MS today can help slow down the general progression of the disease, prevent relapses, as well as help manage symptoms. However, the majority of the medications that have been approved by the FDA for this purpose all have to be given via injection, with the exception of one fairly new drug that can be taken orally.
Oxygen Therapy for MS
Oxygen treatment is a type of therapy for MS which involves breathing in high levels of oxygen for a short length of time. This therapy is designed to raise the level of oxygen in certain tissues of the body as MS can cause those tissues to experience a lack of oxygen. Usually, this is therapy includes fitting the MS patient with a tightly fitted mask. The tight fit is necessary to provide oxygen at a higher pressure than normal, since oxygen doesn’t dissolve well in blood in low pressure situations. Individuals receiving this treatment sit in a high pressure chamber in a group of up to 12 people at a time. The pressurized oxygen is created using compressed air and oxygen is given via built-in breathing systems, which is very similar to the systems used in pressurized commercial aircraft. MS patients generally sit in such a chamber and trained personnel administer the oxygen treatment.
Related articles: Exercise for MS patients | Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis | Cures for Multiple Sclerosis | Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation | Physical Therapy for MS |
