Multiple Sclerosis May Seem Overwhelming, But It Can Be Treated
By Andrew Wilson
Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) may feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to understand why.
MS, an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath covering of the nerve cells in the brain, spine, and optic nerves which, in turn, interrupts communication between the brain the rest of a person’s body, can lead to feelings of numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, vision or balance problems, cloudy thinking, and absolutely exhausting whole-body fatigue that doesn’t necessarily improve with sleep. Currently, there is no cure, but there is therapy to prevent relapses.
“Someone newly diagnosed with MS may feel like their life is over, but that is definitely not the case,” said Ingrid Loma-Miller, M.D., assistant division chief of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Magee Hospital UPMC and assistant professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “A person may need to pick their battles and choose priorities, but it is possible to live with MS.”
MS affects each person differently, but fatigue is the most common denominator.
“Fatigue is the most common concern,” said Dr. Loma-Miller. “A person may notice at the end of the day they are more exhausted than they used to be. They may have trouble with multi-tasking because they cannot think as fast.”
For newly diagnosed MS patients, there are several things that she recommends be done immediately.
If a person smokes, quit. Smoking can increase the risk of disease progression.
Take Vitamin D. Vitamin D may help with reducing inflammation in multiple sclerosis.
Eat a healthy diet. A high carbohydrate diet may worsen inflammation. Obesity may increase the risk of disease progression.
Exercise
“I cannot reiterate enough the importance of exercise. If I could put it in big red letters with flashing lights, I would do that,” Dr. Loma-Miller said with a laugh. While she was joking about the flashing lights, she wasn’t joking about the importance of exercise and movement. “A good exercise regimen includes stretching, strength and cardio training. Keep moving. I have patients age 75 to 80 who are doing well because they keep moving. Even if you are in a wheelchair, keep moving. Work your upper body as much as you can.”
Dr. Loma-Miller and her colleagues at the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Magee Hospital UPMC are fellowship-trained in MS and offer the most up-to-date treatments for patients. The MS Center collaborates with the UPMC Rehabilitation Institutes who have physical, occupational, and speech therapists with expertise in multiple sclerosis. The collaboration also includes psychiatrists who come to the MS Center to treat depression and other mental health issues that patients might be experiencing. The MS Center also has nurses who are dedicated to working with MS patients.
“We focus on MS treatment and management,” she said. “That includes all the problems that someone might face – bladder issues, mental health issues, and sleep issues.”
Dr. Loma-Miller emphasizes that MS is often misdiagnosed as other diseases, which can lead to a delay in treatment.
“Neuromyelitis Optica Syndrome (NMO) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Associated Antibody Disease (MOGAD) are great mimickers of MS,” she said. “So it is important to ask questions.”
Dr. Loma-Miller also emphasizes several things about MS that may not be widely known by the average person.
MS affects children as well as adults. She said that together with Dr. Ariel Heller they treat teenagers and children as young as 7 or 8 years old.
MS is more aggressive in Latino and Black people. This is something still being researched as to reasons why, but it is important to note.
Weight management is important for successful treatment of MS. Obesity can lead to more inflammation of the nerve cells.
Because MS affects different people differently, Dr. Loma-Miller has one additional piece of advice for patients.
“Always question your doctor,” she said. “Always advocate for yourself. You are your best advocate.”
Ingrid Loma-Miller, M.D., is the Assistant Division Chief of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Magee Hospital UPMC and Assistant Professor of Neurology at University of Pittsburgh. She specializes both in Pediatric and Adult Multiple Sclerosis and other neuroimmune disorders such as Neuromyelitis Optica Syndrome (NMO) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein antibody associated disease (MOGAD). She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in adult Multiple Sclerosis at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Dr. Loma- Miller served as Chairman of the Health Provider Council of the Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland & DC Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from 2015-2020 and was an Executive Board Member of the Virginia Neurology Society. She currently is President-elect of the Pennsylvania Neurology Society and a member of the National Medical Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Dr. Loma-Miller is the principal investigator of several clinical trials of treatments for multiple sclerosis and NMO.
She is very passionate about education in multiple sclerosis for both patients and peers. She was the Founder and Course Director of three Mid-Atlantic Multiple Sclerosis Symposiums and led a local support program for patients with multiple sclerosis. She has participated in numerous local and national education programs for neuroimmunology disorders. Dr. Loma-Miller has an interest in Neuroimmunological disorders and pregnancy.