Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

The goals of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment are to relieve symptoms, prevent relapses, and slow disease progression. The treatment and management of MS involves lifestyle changes, medicine, and other treatments, such as physical therapy or mental health services (counseling).

Treatment involves the following:

Lifestyle changes Medications Other treatments Alternative and complementary therapies

At this time, there are no surgical options to cure MS. But there is a surgical option, called deep brain stimulation, for patients who have severe tremor. Deep brain stimulation involves implanting a device in the brain that sends electrical signals, which can block the signals that are triggering the tremors.

References

Multiple sclerosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated August 10, 2012. Accessed August 31, 2012.

Multiple Sclerosis Society. News item. Multiple Sclerosis Society website. Available at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2568 . Accessed August 31, 2012.

Multiple Sclerosis. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple%5Fsclerosis/multiple%5Fsclerosis.htm . Accessed August 31, 2012.

About MS. National Multiple Sclerosis Society website. Available at: http://nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/index.aspx . Accessed August 31, 2012.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Rimas Lukas, MD
Review Date: 10/2012
Update Date: 10/11/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.