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Starting treatment early and staying on treatment may make a difference in MS. Many MS treatments have been shown to reduce the risk of relapses and slow the progression of disability.
The goals of MS therapy include:
- Reducing the number of relapses
- Slowing down physical disability
- Reducing the number of brain lesions
- Reducing the rate of brain shrinkage
- Improving mental and physical function
- Improving quality of life by helping make everyday activities more manageable
- Helping people live independently
Maintain High Expectations for Your MS Treatment
It's important to remember that MS therapies do not cure MS, and you may still experience symptoms while on treatment. However, with multiple sclerosis, slowing the disease, or having no disease progression, is also considered successful treatment. Even though symptoms may be present, staying on treatment is key to slowing the progression of your MS.
Remember to assess your symptoms regularly to be sure that your MS treatment is meeting your goals. If you are not achieving your goals, it may be time to speak to your healthcare professional about switching MS treatments.
Achieving Treatment Goals
There are three considerations for reaching your MS treatment goals:
- Treating MS early, at the first sign of MS symptoms, can help minimize nerve damage and slow MS progression. Studies have also shown that treatment works best when it is used early.
- Staying on treatment is important for achieving your goals. Even if you can't see a difference and feel that you don't need treatment, your MS therapy may be working to slow the progress of your MS.
- Evaluating your treatment helps you consider the effectiveness of your current MS therapy and whether it may be time for a change.
Everyone with MS is unique, and there is no test that can predict how well a treatment will work for you. However, the results of MRIs and other tests can give an idea about how well a treatment is working. Generally, if your MRI results and examinations are positive, and you are feeling well, your MS is probably being managed well.
More about MS treatment options
