Corinthian Health Services Blog

Blog for Corinthian Health Services

World MS Day – Why Research is Critical to Bringing Us Closer to a Cure

World MS Day is coming. First instituted on May 30, 2009, by the MS International Federation (MSIF), World MS Day touches hundreds of thousands of people all around the world with awareness campaigns focused on a different theme each year. This year the campaign will focus on MS research and will be called #bringinguscloser. World MS Day Social Graphic (1)

Even though World MS Day is on May 30, events and campaigns are held all over the world throughout the entire month of May. It’s a time when the entire MS community comes together to raise awareness, tell their stories, and campaign for everyone directly or indirectly affected by multiple sclerosis. Every little bit helps the more than two million people around the globe living with MS.

Be Defined by YOUR Possibility, Not by a Diagnosis

If you’d like to show your support for World MS Day, there are plenty of things you can do, big and small. You can even get free tools like logos, posters, guides, and more to help you bring it all together from WorldMSDay.org.

  1. Take it to the streets: Setting up a stall where people can pick up flyers and information is a great way to get the word out. You can also walk around your neighborhood and hand out information packets with a smile.
  2. Organize a seminar: Medical professionals like neurologists, physiotherapists and MS nurses can offer lots of insights into how patients, caregivers, and family members can deal with MS. It shouldn’t be too hard to find someone who’d give up an hour or two of their time to speak and answer questions to help mark World MS Day.
  3. Get together online: It’s easy to get people connected through social media, chat, or a webinar service. You can set up a Twitter chat, a live stream on Facebook, or host a webinar to help get people involved and raise awareness. There are even social media assets available.
  4. Ask local businesses for support: Local businesses that deal with the public often don’t mind putting a sign in the window or up in front of the check-out. Printing some of the flyers from WorldMSDay.org and putting them on display around town can draw a lot of attention.
  5. Put your event on the map: The World MS Day site hosts a global event map. If you’re going to organize an event in your area, add it to the map for some extra exposure.

Getting involved in World MS Day is important. More support and research is needed to finally bring the world a cure for MS. Each person who participates in the events and campaigns that go on around World MS Day helps us reach that goal.

CHS is committed to giving the best care possible

CHS Patient Quotes

While researchers continue to learn about what causes MS and its’ possible cures, Corinthian Health Services is committed to giving the best possible care right NOW.

In fact, a recent survey was given to all Corinthian patients across the country.  These are the results;

  1. Patients believed that every professional on their specific care team, from the Care Managers who assist with all insurance matters; the schedulers who work to get the best possible appointment times and the amazing IgNS certified infusion nurses are extremely knowledgeable, caring and concerned.
  2. In fact, our patients are passionate that they are receiving the best care available anywhere.
  3. Now, that’s peace of mind
  4. When confidence is present, stress is reduced and patients thrive.  Good care BRINGS US CLOSER!

IVIG for MS – An Overview of IVIG Benefits for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

IVIG for MS may help reduce symptoms of the disease and its progression. Always speak with your doctor regarding the best treatment plan for you.

Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is the result of the body’s immune system attacking a substance called myelin, which wraps around nerve fibers to protect them. Without myelin, exposed nerves can become damaged, often forming scar tissue, which interferes with nervous system functions. This is where multiple sclerosis gets its name, which means “many scars.”

IVIG for MS Benefits

Intravenous immunoglobulin, commonly referred to as IVIG, is generally used to help the body fight off disease by boosting the immune system. A derivative of donated blood, this medicine is made by filtering antibodies from many donors and pooling them together in a liquid suspension.

ivig for ms

IVIG has been shown to be effective for treating some neurological diseases by increasing the functions of some parts of the immune system while decreasing others. As an off-label treatment for MS, IVIG is used to help slow the progression of the disease as well as reduce the symptoms and disabilities it causes. Doctors also believe that it can lengthen the time between relapses for those suffering from relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

MS-Specific Uses for IVIG

Currently, IVIG is not a general treatment for multiple sclerosis at this time. However, it is used in more specific areas where it has been shown to be particularly effective.

  • Patients who cannot tolerate common therapies: IVIG use is recommended in cases where patients are unable to tolerate currently common MS therapies such as those that use Copaxone, Betaseron, Avonex, and Rebif.
  • Pregnant women: Some studies have shown that IVIG can reduce the chance of having a relapse during pregnancy.
  • Postpartum women: In about one-third of all cases, women with MS will experience a relapse after childbirth. IVIG has been shown to be effective in preventing these relapses.
  • People with primary progressive MS: A European study showed that IVIG could help to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis in people with primary progressive MS.

How Effective is IVIG for MS?

How Effective is IVIG for MSAt present, the medical community is fairly well divided on the effectiveness of IVIG for treating multiple sclerosis. Some studies seem to show beneficial effects from IVIG treatments while others report that there is no significant difference between patients treated with IVIG and those given a placebo.

In an article published in 2008, Professor Jeffrey A. Cohen discusses the meaning of some of these conflicting reports and stresses that none of the studies conducted so far are considered to be definitive. However, he has indicated that several studies demonstrate the beneficial effects of IVIG in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. The magnitude of the benefits in terms of reductions in relapse rate and MRI lesion activity seemed to be favorable.

Possible Side Effects of IVIG

ivig for msAs with most medical treatments, someone treated with IVIG may experience side effects. Some of the most common side effects include:

  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Chest pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Rash

There are also rare, but serious, side effects such as kidney failure or dysfunction, aseptic meningitis or what are known as thrombotic events which include things like stroke, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or deep vein thrombosis.

For these reasons, IVIG is not to be used on patients with an IgA deficiency or existing kidney problems or failure. For people with heart problems or diabetes, doctors advise using IVIG only with a great deal of caution and careful monitoring.

If you have questions about IVIG for MS or think it might be a good treatment option for you, talk with your doctor. He’ll be able to help you weigh out the potential pros and cons to developing an effective overall MS treatment plan.