News, info and tips for living with multiple sclerosis
It had been hoped that Biogen’s experimental drug opicinumab would be able to repair mylin. As those of us who live with Multiple Sclerosis know all too well, mylin is sort of an insulator to our nerves. MS destroys mylin and, in doing so, short circuits our nervous system. Biogen announced today that Phase 2 of its opicinumab trial, named SYNERGY, failed to meet its primary goal of improving physical…Continue Reading
I love the summer. I also live at the beach. So, I’m just asking for trouble. I can’t help it. Being out in the sun is one of my greatest pleasures, followed by hanging around in the swimming pool at our condo. Note that I said in the pool. Staying in the cool water helps offset the problems that summertime temperatures create for those of us with MS. Even if…Continue Reading
There’s now a once-a-month injection for treating relapsing multiple sclerosis. The drug is called Zinbryta (daclizumab) and it was just approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Zinbryta is self-administered subcutaneously, which means using needles that are shorter than the ones that are used for drugs, such as Avonex, which are administered into the muscle. Clinical data, reported by Zinbryta’s manufacturer, Biogen, shows Zinbryta significantly reduced relapses and brain lesions…Continue Reading
I’ve been remiss in not noting World Multiple Sclerosis Day today until the day is almost over. But I hope that sharing this music video, by the band A Great Big World, will encourage you to take the name of the song to heart and that you Won’t Stop Running. Band member Chad King was diagnosed with MS in 2007. His first symptoms were vertigo and a weakness…Continue Reading
My neurologist tells me “the buzz is good” about ocrelizumab. The investing web site Motley Fool calls it “the revolutionary Multiple Sclerosis drug you’ve never heard of.” Ocrelizumab, which Genentech hopes to market under the name Ocrevus, is special because it’s designed to treat primary-progressive, as well as relapsing-remitting, MS. How does it work? I’m not a scientist, but after reading a lot of scientific writing here’s my best attempt to…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