News, info and tips for living with multiple sclerosis
OCT was new to me. When I read, in the MS Connection newsletter, about a test that might show some of what an MRI shows, but without having to slide into that tight tube, I had to investigate further. OCT, or optical coherence tomography, uses light waves to take a picture of your retina. You’ve probably had one during an eye exam. It’s that test where they put drops in…Continue Reading
Why didn’t someone think of this long ago? The “Ogo” is the coolest thing I’ve seen for getting around when your legs can’t do the job. And you don’t need your arms, either. Just bend in the direction that you want to travel, just like riding on a Segway, and off you go. You can even change tires and travel off-road…through the woods or down the beach. The prototype can…Continue Reading
Lipoic Acid is an antioxident that’s been used in Germany to treat some diabetes symptoms; including numbness, pain and burning of legs and arms. Do those symptoms sound familiar? Similar to some of our Multiple Sclerosis symptoms, right? A small study led by Rebecca Spain, MD, MSPH, from the VA Portland Healthcare System and Oregon Health and Science University looked at using Lipoic Acid as an inexpensive M.S. therapy. The…Continue Reading
Could an over-the-counter drug, used to treat sniffles, help ease M.S. symptoms and maybe even repair myelin? Maybe…someday. The drug is clemastine fumarate, a common antihistamine used to treat cold and allergy symptoms. In a small, preliminary study involving M.S. and optic neuropathy, (damage to the nerve that sends info from the eye to the brain), participants who took clemastine fumarate showed what the study terms a “modest” improvement in…Continue Reading
When I travel people frequently stop and ask me about the little scooter that I use. It’s small, light and fast so I’m not surprised to hear “where did you get that?” It’s called a TravelScoot, weighs just thirty five pounds and folds up like a baby stroller. My little scooter has been on trains (Amtrak), boats (Oceania Cruise Lines) and planes (half a dozen airlines). Of course, it’s also…Continue Reading