FREE THINGS & TIPS

2006-11-08T21:18:00.000-08:00

3 GREAT MAGAZINES FROM THE UK: FREE DOWNLOADS...CLICK HERE

"MS in focus is available in English, Spanish and German. With an international cross cultural board, easily accessible language and free subscription MS in focus will interest all those affected by MS worldwide. People with MS, healthcare professionals and support groups will find the following areas of MS in focus invaluable: rehabilitation; quality of life and lifestyle; treatments; MS Society projects and programmes; and the activities of the global MS community"

Genetics and hereditary aspects of MS
Rehabilitation
Intimacy and sexuality

2006-11-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

FREE: "Teen InsideMS" - Online version or PDF

THIS SITE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2006-10-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

2006-10-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

MS Injection Anxiety Program: FREE DOWNLOAD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA- SAN FRANCISCO

"....Our research has found that up to 50% of people who are prescribed
medications requiring intramuscular injection are unable to self-inject because of their injection anxiety.

This means that other people must be trained to perform the injection (e.g., a family member), or the person must go to a clinic to obtain the injections.

We found that people who were not able to self-inject due to injection anxiety were much more likely to discontinue taking the medication.

We have therefore developed a brief model of counseling to teach people to
overcome their injection anxiety and learn to self inject. An initial pilot of
our self-injection counseling program showed that it was highly successful
in teaching people to self-inject. We are currently completing a trial of the
intervention that will more definitively test whether or not this program is
effective at teaching self-injection.

Workbook and Manual:

The manual and workbook are copyrighted. We make them available to
patients and counselors free of charge. To read them you will need Adobe
Acrobat Reader. If you need a copy of Acrobat Reader, go to the Adobe
website and follow the instructions to download Acrobat Reader free of
charge.

2006-06-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

FREE DOWNLOAD: "MS in focus magazine"...I Special focus Rehabilitation
CLICK HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

2006-06-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

When Your Insurance Company Won't Pay: 12 Tips...MORE
z1. Don't assume that the first no you receive is final. About 10 percent of all insurance claims are unjustly denied but less than 1 percent of people making insurance claims even question their insurer when their claim is denied. The majority of policyholders who do contest their cases either win their cases or improve their settlements.

2. Insist on a written explanation.
Most state laws require insurance companies to provide written explanations of claim denials. Failure to comply may constitute an illegal practice by the insurer.

2006-05-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

View Interactive Flash Program: "Experts SpeakOut - Side Effect Considerations with
[University of Cincinnati]
Disease-Modifying Therapies"
Download CME Monograph (PDF)
Download Program Presentation Slides (PPT)

2006-01-08T15:48:00.000-08:00

GENERAL LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH MS - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER: CLICK TO READ MORE

Avonex & Rebif(interferon beta-1a) Information: What is the most important information I should know about interferon beta-1a?

2006-01-07T11:26:00.000-08:00

Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you begin feeling depressed or anxious or if you have thoughts of suicide.

Overview of MS: U.S. Pharmacist

2006-01-05T23:21:00.000-08:00

This teaching module reviews the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology and clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis, disease-modifying drugs used to treat MS, symptomatic problems associated with MS and therapies for their management, and the role of pharmacists in care for patients with MS. Goal:To describe the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and discuss the various products used to treat acute exacerbations, slow the progression of the disease, and minimize symptomatic problems.

MORE: U.S. Pharmacist

"Types of Multiple Sclerosis"....Multiple Sclerosis Center at Johns Hopkins

2005-12-22T16:37:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE: Multiple Sclerosis Center at Johns Hopkins

"Constipation"....Brigham and Women's is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School

2005-12-22T16:11:00.000-08:00

Definition...Causes...Risk Factors...Symptoms...Diagnosis...TreatmentCLICK FOR MS INFO FROM: Brigham and Women's Hospital

"WHAT IS MS".....UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center

2005-12-22T15:59:00.000-08:00

"Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Converging lines of evidence suggest that the disease is caused by a disturbance in immune function. This disturbance permits cells of the immune system to attack myelin, the insulating sheath that surrounds the nerve fibers (axons) located in the CNS (i.e., the brain and spinal cord). When myelin is damaged, electrical impulses cannot travel quickly along nerve fiber pathways in the brain and spinal cord. Disruption of electrical conductivity results in fatigue and disturbances of vision, strength, coordination, balance, sensations, and bladder and bowel function.

Why was this disease called multiple sclerosis?....>"MORE....UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center

"HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY"....UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center

2005-12-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

"It is estimated that between 45% and 65% of all people with MS experience problems with memory, attention, word-finding, problem-solving, or other cognitive functions as a symptom of the disease. These cognitive changes can vary considerably from one person to another, both in type and severity. There is very little relationship between the severity of physical symptoms and the severity of cognitive problems. One person may have severe physical symptoms but no problems with cognition. Another person may be very physically fit but have severe problems with thinking and remembering."MORE....UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center

Assistive Devices and Equipment for MS

2005-12-22T15:38:00.000-08:00

The Cleveland Clinic

A Pacemaker for the Brain...MS

2005-12-22T15:37:00.000-08:00

"A boy walks down a hospital corridor. He swings his arms. His gait is perfectly unremarkable. And that's remarkable. Because a few weeks earlier, he'd been unable to walk at all. The difference between then and now is a remarkable new surgical procedure that has been likened to implanting a "pacemaker" in the brain."THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

2005-12-22T15:35:00.000-08:00

Stress and MS: THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
Stress refers to two different things: situations that trigger a reaction (physical and/or emotional) and the response to those triggers. Each individual’s experience of stress depends on the nature of the stressor and how the stressor is perceived.

Having a chronic illness can cause and influence stress. MS is no exception. Individuals with MS have the difficult challenge of dealing with:

* The uncertainty of diagnosis (before MS diagnosis, living with symptoms, and no diagnosis)
* The unpredictability of the disease
* The emergence of symptoms (having visible signs of the disease, such as the need for a cane or wheelchair)
* Concerns about finances and job situation
* Dependence on others and not being able to care for others (such as a spouse and children) as before
* The need to modify activities and surroundings to accommodate changes due to MS
* Symptoms that are unexplainable and not understandable

What are the warning signs of stress?
Responses to stressors include physical changes, and emotional and behavioral responses.

Emotional warning signs

* Anger
* Inability to concentrate
* Unproductive worry
* Sadness
* Frequent mood swings

Physical warning signs

* Stooped posture
* Sweaty palms
* Chronic fatigue
* Weight gain or loss

Behavioral warning signs

* Over-reacting
* Acting on impulse
* Using alcohol or drugs
* Withdrawing from relationships

What can I do to reduce stress?

* Keep a positive attitude.
* Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
* Be assertive instead of aggressive. "Assert" your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, combative, or passive.
* Learn relaxation techniques.
* Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
* Eat well-balanced meals.
* Rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.
* Don’t rely on alcohol or drugs to reduce stress.

How can I learn to relax?
There are a number of exercises that you can do to relax. These exercises include breathing, muscle and mind relaxation, relaxation to music, and biofeedback. A few that you can try are listed below. First, be sure that you have:

1. A quiet location that is free of distractions
2. A comfortable body position (Sit or recline on a chair or sofa.)
3. A good state of mind (Try to block out worries and distracting thoughts.)

Relaxation exercises

* 2-Minute relaxation — Switch your thoughts to yourself and your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly. Mentally scan your body. Notice areas that feel tense or cramped. Quickly loosen up these areas. Let go of as much tension as you can. Rotate your head in a smooth, circular motion once or twice. (Stop any movements that cause pain.) Roll your shoulders forward and backward several times. Let all of your muscles completely relax. Recall a pleasant thought for a few seconds. Take another deep breath and exhale slowly. You should feel relaxed.
* Mind relaxation — Close your eyes. Breathe normally through your nose. As you exhale, silently say to yourself the word "one," a short word such as "peaceful" or a short phrase such as "I feel quiet." Continue for 10 minutes. If your mind wanders, gently remind yourself to think about your breathing and your chosen word or phrase. Let your breathing become slow and steady.
* Deep breathing relaxation — Imagine a spot just below your navel. Breath into that spot and fill your abdomen with air. Let the air fill you from the abdomen up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon. With every long, slow breath out, you should feel more relaxed.MORE: THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

Alternative Therapies

2005-12-22T15:31:00.000-08:00

THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

What is Alternative Therapy?

2005-12-22T14:50:00.001-08:00

A boy walks down a hospital corridor. He swings his arms. His gait is perfectly unremarkable. And that's remarkable. Because a few weeks earlier, he'd been unable to walk at all. The difference between then and now is a remarkable new surgical procedure that has been likened to implanting a "pacemaker" in the brain.n

AT HOME WITH MS

2005-12-22T14:50:00.000-08:00

"Because activities of daily living (ADL’s) — including leisure activities — can cause you to become fatigued much more quickly; and because mobility can be decreased in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), it’s important to modify your activity levels. The following tips might help you learn to function more independently and successfully."...MORE...THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

Botulinum Toxin Therapy for MS

2005-12-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

...MORE...THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

TIPS: Parenting a Child with MS

2005-12-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE FOR TIPS Kids can get MS too and some of those people diagnosed as young adults actually had their initial symptoms much earlier. The majority of youngsters with MS, however, are between the ages of 10 and 17.