It's a disease that strikes the central nervous system.
It affects the ability to move.
Patients with multiple sclerosis may have unpredictable symptoms that are different for each person.
There's no cure.
That's why researchers, including those at Rochester's Mayo Clinic are working tirelessly to find ways to make living with this disease a little easier.
Multiple Sclerosis is not a fatal disease.
It's not necessarily inherited or contagious.
So far, researchers aren't able to pinpoint a cure.
A few treatments on the market provide symptom relief.
Others are still in clinical trials.
That includes one drug called Fampridine, and another already on the market called Tysabri.
Patients say these latest drugs provide hope on the horizon for MS.
Kathy Kruger looks like any other teacher's aide you'll find in the classroom.
Kathy works full-time at Central Springs elementary school in Manly.
She's helping these 3rd graders learn to read and write.
But she's also working another full-time job, battling a disease for 28 years, Multiple Sclerosis.
"Like I tell everybody, I have MS, but MS does not have me," says Kruger.
But kathy admits at 29, hearing that diagnosis was very frightening.
"Oh I cried and I cried. I couldn't believe it. I thought I am so young, I have so many things ahead of me in life and it was very depressing," says Kruger.
She credits her faith in God, her family and the development of medications to get her through the rough days.
Kathy isn't alone
400,000 Americans are dealing with MS.
Doctors are diagnosing about 200 new cases each week.
4,000 of those patients live in Iowa and nearly 10,000 are in Minnesota.
"Often the diagnosis is worse than the disease itself, because a lot of people fall apart," says Brian Weinshenker, M.D., Mayo Clinic Neurologist.
According to this Mayo Clinic Neurologist, a diagnosis of MS is often devastating for patients and their families.
Since there are no specific tests for the disease, doctor Weinshenker says he believes there are too many doctors over-diagnosing MS.
"I would say I almost take away a diagnosis half as often as I make a diagnosis," says, Dr. Weinshenker.
MS is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, stopping the flow of information between the brain and the body.
The attack on nerve fibers over time, leads to more progressive symptoms.
Doctor Weinshenker points to the immune system as the culprit in this disease.
Weinshenker says, "The brain and spinal cord are the victims, and I tell patients we try to first sing a lullaby to the immune system to get it to sleep but if that doesn't work we come in with increasingly stronger agents ultimately try to club the immune system over the head."
nerves are surrounded by myelin, an insulation that preserves the electricity passing through the central nervous system.
MS destroys that insulation, exposing nerves, and stopping people from moving.
One of the latest drugs in clinical trials is Fampridine.
It works by blocking these exposed nerves and helping the electrical signals find their way through areas of nerve damage.
Researchers say Fampridine improved walking speed in some people with Multiple Sclerosis.
They also noticed improvements in patients vision, strength, movement, fatigue, and endurance.
According to Weinshenker, "There are a lot of people who have difficulty walking, the drug seems to be relatively safe, and give patients better energy and walk more quickly."
Another treatment is Tysabri.
It's a disease-modifying drug that's been on the market for the past two years for patients with relapsing forms of MS.
But now researchers are learning that it's doing much more than originally thought.
For the first time we have an FDA approved drug, that for a minority of patients, is associated not just with stopping the progression of MS, but some people stand a chance at getting better," says Frederick Munschauer, M.D., Neurologist.
Lynn Conboy is one of 50,000 people worldwide taking Tysabri.
She says MS once sidelined her from doing what she wanted, but
Now after several treatments of Tysabri, she feels like a new person.
"It's just given me my life back, I feel as though I've been able to release the pause button on my life, and I've pressed play and I'm in life again,” says MS patient, Lynn Conboy.
Patients like Kathy remain positive and hopeful too.
Kruger says, "My prayer is we can find a cure in my lifetime. I would love to see that so that no one else has to hear the words, "you have MS."
A prayer echoed by many.
Fampridine is still awaiting FDA approval.
Doctors say Tysabri isn't for everyone.
Risks include about a one in 10,000 chance of developing a life threatening brain infection.
As always, you should talk to your doctor to find out what course of treatment is best for you.
Kathy Kruger leads a local MS support group.
It meets monthly at Mercy West Campus in Mason City.
For more information about the support group contact Brittney, at 515‐270‐6337.
