9 Myths
There is a still a lot to learn about multiple sclerosis. Here are some misconceptions
you may have heard. We'd like to clear them up.
Myth #1
"MS is fatal."
It isn't. Statistics show that most people with MS have a near normal life span.
Most deaths associated with MS are due to complications in advanced, progressive stages of
the disease. Effective early treatment of MS should help to prevent those complications.
In very rare cases, MS is malignantly progressive and may be fatal
Myth #2
"Everyone with MS will be in a wheelchair sooner or later."
Not true. Many people with MS remain able to walk without help. However, the
likelihood of needing a mobility device increases the longer someone has MS.
In addition, people who are still able to walk may use a wheelchair, cane,
scooter, or other device to conserve energy or prevent injury from falls.
Only 25% of people with MS use a wheelchair or stay in bed because they are
unable to walk, according to a well-designed survey completed before the new
disease-modifying drugs became available.
Myth #3
"Because there is no cure for MS, there's nothing that can be done for me."
It is true that there is no cure for MS yet, but there are now FDA-approved medications
that have been shown to modify or slow down the underlying course of MS. In addition,
many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms and lead
productive lives. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year
and progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging.
Myth #4
"I should stop working. The stress will aggravate my MS."
There is no scientific evidence that the normal stress of working has any effect on MS.
But symptoms, such as fatigue, can cause problems on the job. Approximately 30%
of people with MS are working full-time after 20 years. The National MS Society
thinks that number could be higher, and works to change the attitudes of
employers and employees alike.
Myth #5
"I shouldn't have children. I can't be good parent with MS."
Children are far less fragile than you think, and are more able to accept painful
realities than we generally assume. Parents often try to protect their children by
hiding painful issues, but open and honest communication among family members is
valuable and important.
A family may include a person who doesn't always feel well, and needs extra help.
The sharing you do together can make your family feel close. Just as
the experience of MS itself varies from person to person, so too do the
concerns of families.
Even if a parent can't go skating or go on long hikes, there are many things families
can do together. It's important to be supportive and let kids express their feelings.
Most women with MS find their symptoms lessen during pregnancy. Then, the risk of an attack
rises somewhat in the first six months after delivery. Overall, pregnancy and childbirth have
no long-term effect on MS.
Those who worry that their children will develop MS should know that the risk is actually
very small: somewhere between 1% and 5%.
Myth #6
"Natural treatments are "safer" than prescription medication."
Controversy continues to rage about the value of alternative approaches. Advocates of
alternative therapies sometimes claim that conventional medicine is ignoring or
suppressing treatments that can alleviate symptoms or even cure some diseases.
Opponents of alternative therapies maintain that conventional medicine adopts whatever therapies can be proven safe and effective, and they challenge the advocates of unproven treatments to produce the scientific evidence that will substantiate their claims.
No dietary claim has yet held up in scientific studies. However, for general good health,
people with MS are strongly advised to follow the low-fat, high-fiber, varied diet
recommended by the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.
Myth #7
"No one will love me now that I have MS."
Confronting the challenges of MS draws many couples closer together. Talking about
problems and developing solutions can deepen both partners’ sense of intimacy.
Sexuality does not have to disappear from the lives of couples when one partner has MS.
Instead, partners can find satisfying approaches to sexual intimacy that overcome the barriers.
Myth #8
"No one can possibly understand what I'm going through."
Approximately 400,000 Americans acknowledge having MS, and every week about 200 people
are diagnosed. Worldwide, MS may affect 2.5 million individuals.
• Read personal stories of trials and triumphs, view artwork, share experiences, and
know that you are not alone.
Through our network of chapters, the National MS Society offers support programs for
everyone affected by MS, including referral to chapter-affiliated self-help groups.
Myth #9
"Scientists aren't making much progress in the fight against MS."
There has never been a more exciting time in MS research. Only a decade ago there were no
medicines that could alter the underlying disease, and now there are five approved drugs
for different forms of MS. The National MS Society is spending $30 million every year to
fight MS, including funding more than 300 in-depth investigations into virtually every aspect
of this disease.
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