As yet there is no cure for MS but there are facets of the disease which have recognised treatments and which can be very effective.

Exacerbations

The standard treatment for significant acute exacerbations is the use of steroids, which exert powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Steroids reduce inflammation at the site of new demyelination, allowing return to normal function to occur more rapidly and reducing the duration of the exacerbation. The current favoured steroid regimen is methyl-prednisolone given intravenously in high doses for 3-5 days with, perhaps, subsequent tapering lower oral doses of prednisone for 1-2 weeks. The use of steroids are not thought to have any effect on the long-term course of the disease.

Altering the course of the disease

A number of new drugs have recently been approved for use in MS which have some effect on the frequency and severity of exacerbations and the number of lesions as seen on MRI, though the effect on progression of disability remains unclear.

The US National MS Society website includes a useful comparison between the disease modifying drugs for MS

Symptom Specific Treatment

For many of the symptoms that occur in MS, effective treatments are available. It is important, however, that careful diagnosis and repeated symptom evaluation is undertaken together with a competent physician (GP, neurologist or other specialists such as urologists, gynaecologists etc). In "MS: The Guide to Treatment and Management" a great number of such therapies are listed and the evidence concerning their indications, applications and effectiveness are discussed in detail.

MS: The Guide

Alternative Therapies
Advice on new treatments