Are there any alternative to injections for Multiple Sclerosis?

All doctors claim to be great. No doctor brags about being slipshod or just plain mediocre. Identifying a lesion that is indicative of multiple sclerosis should be done at an MS Clinic where the neurologists specialize in it. Lots of people are born with lesions or develop lesions from migraines or other diseases and conditions. Having lesions does not mean that you have MS. I do not know of any reputable doctor who would diagnose MS on the basis of one MRI with lesions. I can’t think of anything less professional. I don’t think Kaiser even has an MS clinic. MS is diagnosed on the basis of having two attacks of MS separated by a designated amount of time as well as one or more MRIs and at least several other tests to rule out lyme and devic’s disease and MANY others. How anybody can come up with a diagnosis of MS when you haven’t had an MS attack is beyond comprehension. You need to contact the MS society and find a clinic with neurologists who specialize in MS and then get there. Three of the medications for MS are actually a dose of mild chemotherapy (the interferons) The only other medication that is on the market is Copaxone.There is absolutely no cure for MS, natural or otherwise. You need a second opinion before you do anything.

My mom try a holistic approach with vitamins, exercise and an organic diet. She improved considerably.

I was diagnosed last year as a fluke (having an MRI for another reason). I had over 30 lesions before I was ever diagnosed. The attacks were just in parts of my brain that didn’t cause noticable symptoms.

I’m a nurse with MS. I spent a great deal of time talking with my doctor and reviewing the literature to decide which drug was best. Because I have two very active children (1 & 2 when I was diagnosed, 3 & 4 now), along with still working part-time, I chose Copaxone so as not to have flu-symptoms. Copaxone is an expensive drug, but my insurance covers it, so I pay $15/mo. There are days I don’t want to "shoot up", and in all honesty I skip a day about once a month, a small reprieve. But I know I will get through it, even if I don’t get used to it.

I was at an MS symposium in March, as far as any oral meds for MS there are a few, but they are still a few years down the line. There are 3 in Phase II Trials (to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular disease and to determine common short-term side effects and risks). There are 3 in Phase III Trials (to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide a basis for physician labeling).

MS is not curable, but it can be manageable. Treatment goals are to reduce the number of attacks, improve recovery from attacks, slow MS’s progression, and relieve complications due to the loss of function

Here’s a easy to understand article http://www.medicinenet.com/multiple_sclerosis/article.htm
I also like the "MS for Dummies" book. For me MS was the devil I knew since my mom and aunt have it. But the book was a good reference for my husband. Plus there were tips I hadn’t heard of or thought about.

Drug therapy…
Interferon shots are given every other day or once a week, but on a non-shot day you can have flu-like symptoms. Copaxone is a shot everyday but no flu-like symptoms. Novantrone has serious side effects, physicians tend to reserve its use for advanced or worsening cases. Tysabri is back on the market after being pulled a couple years ago for infection complications, and is used only in a controlled drug distribution program.

A few oral MS drugs are under study, but they are still a few years down the line. Three are in Phase II Trials (to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular disease and to determine common short-term side effects and risks). Three are in Phase III Trials (to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide a basis for physician labeling).

Low dose naltrexone (LDN) finished a Phase III trial for use in MS in Nov. 2007. But articles were out in Sept. 2007 before the trial even finished saying more clinical trials are still needed for specific use in MS.

There are trials at various stages studying antibiotic therapy and MS.

Reports in 2006/2007 showed initial benefits with Sativex (cannabis). However, April 2008 trials reports showed it was no more effective in treating MS pain than a placebo given to half the patients. It has been approved for use in Canada and is still development in Europe and the US.

None drug therapies…
Exercise/physical therapy: Maintain a healthy weight to help with mobility problems. Also, they help with spasticity and weakness.
Exercise, such as tai chi and yoga can lower stress, help you relax, and increase energy, balance, and flexibility. As with any exercise program, check with your doctor before getting started.

Eat healthy: Eat a healthy diet just like everyone else, making smart choices to balance between food and activity. Ask your doctor what diet is right for you.
There is some evidence that taking an oral supplement of linoleic acid (found in evening primrose, sunflower seeds, and safflower oil) may slightly improve MS symptoms.

Don’t overheat: Whether you are exercising, working, taking a hot shower or have a fever, try not to get overheated so you won’t have a pseudoflair and get fatigued. Heat appears to intensify MS symptoms for about 60% of patients. Until the heat passes.

Elimination needs: Plenty of fluids, Vitamin C, and cranberry juice are used to prevent urinary tact infections.
Increase fluids and fiber prevent constipation.

Decrease stress: Massage therapy helps relax and reduce stress and depression, which can exacerbate MS. Strive to have a positive outlook. It won’t cure MS, but it can reduce your stress and help you feel better.

Acupuncture: May provide some relief from pain, muscle spasms, or bladder control problems. As of yet, there have been no scientific studies to confirm this or to document acupuncture’s safe use in MS. Keep in mind that there are always risks when a procedure involves puncturing the body with needles. Be sure the practitioner uses sterile technique as acupuncture could transmit infection or blood borne disease like hepatitis or HIV.

Treating flairs:
While steroids do not affect the course of MS over time, they can reduce the duration and s

This is not a decision to take lightly. When I was diagnosed (also by fluke) I was told what drug I was going to take and because I had no idea what MS was or what my options were I let my Neuro take the wheel. I regret that decision deeply. I was on copoxane for a year and at the end of that year i’d had 2 flairs that i’d had to be hospitalized for and 8 new lesions.( I too hated the idea of giving myself a shot, but believe me it’s not that bad, these aren’t the huge needles that we get at the docs office and they barely go into the skin. And if you have any fatty tissue at all you’ll get to the point that you can hardly feel it. The trick is not letting yourself tense up, difficult I know, but it works!)
The trick with this disease is to be aggressive so it doesn’t get any worse. You want to stop it in it’s tracks as soon as possible. And that will probably mean an interfon,those are the shots that are going to give you the "flu like" symptoms. And yes they suck! But for some people the side effects go away within the first month. There’s also a medicine called Avonex which is a once a week shot. And I’ve heard for some people it really works. And you only have to take it once a week.
I haven’t tried anything natural, I believe that some people believe it works but maybe that’s the placebo effect. And alot of times those people that claim that they’ve been cured with the natural ways i.e. 4 pounds of fresh veggies and fruits a day(but eating healthy and exercising is just good medicine in general it will probably make you feel better and will help your symptoms) are probably just in remission, MS doesn’t go away.
Also don’t believe people who tell you to take out your mercury fillings our let anybody sting you with bee’s. Ok?

don’t waste ur time on interferons….those things will just screw u up!!!
get a priscription somehow and take LDN (low dose naltrxone)
if u go in for LDN ur good
the interferons will make ur life a waste….doctors say u can live a normal life…i’ll say thats BULLSHIT!!!
don’t waste precious time go in for LDN….its cheap thats why the medicine companies don’t want it to be researched for MS