Q. I am a 36-year-old male from Poland and was diagnosed with MS in 1999. I only learned recently that my MS is secondary progressive. Why didn’t my doctors in Poland tell me anything about this then? I experience no relapses or improvements at all. In this type of MS, will my symptoms just continue to get worse? Are there any medical trials for this? How do I cope with this and a young, dependent family?
A. Secondary progressive MS is called “secondary” because it follows an initially relapsing-remitting course. If your physician says that you are currently in the secondary progressive phase of the disease, it probably means that you passed through a RR phase without knowing it, perhaps as a teenager or very young adult.
The speed of progression in secondary MS and the particular symptoms that occur, vary significantly from one person to another. This means that some people with SPMS will experience more disability than others. Your national MS society can provide information about how to manage your disease, and about medications that are currently being tested or are in use for progressive MS. They can also tell you what support may be available for your family.
Q. I was diagnosed with CIS and started on interferon beta and haven’t had a second attack for two years. Do I have to take interferon for ever?
A. The purpose of interferon for CIS is to prevent conversion to clinically definite MS, so continuing to take interferon decreases this chance. We do not know yet from research how long people with CIS will need to continue treatment.
| World MS Day 2009
MS societies in 67 countries held events and activities to mark the first ever World MS Day on 27 May 2009.
Big names from film, sport and music helpedpromote the global movement and MSIF launched a short film, available in ten languages. Watch it online at www.worldmsday.org
Mountaineer Lori Schneider, who herself has MS, planted a flag on Mount Everest.
Lori said, “It was an amazing feeling to go step by step by step up Mount Everest with the World MS Day flag in my pack.
“Each step was hard. It gave me a whole new feeling for people with MS who may have a hard time walking across a room. I encourage them not to give up hope and to keep following their dreams!”
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