Jennifer Hauxhurst: Most people with MS don't look like there is anything wrong with them, you don't see the disease.
Female Speaker: Jennifer Hauxhurst was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a progressive and incurable disease affecting the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It has no known cause and typically strikes in the prime of life.
Dr. Richard Rudick: Over the years patients develop more symptoms, more severe symptoms, and they tend to last longer.
Female Speaker: Several procedures in tests maybe used to confirm a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and medical history of the person is compiled. Testing is done on reflexes, balance, coordination and vision. MRI scans can be performed to provide a view of the brain. And a spinal tap can also be done to check spinal fluid for signs of the disease. During an MS attack, an area of the brain becomes inflamed and immune cells begin to destroy a coding around nerve fibers. The multiple scars or lesions left behind are the characteristics signs for which the disease is named.
Dr. Jeffrey Cohen: Each time new area of information develops it damages the tissue in that location. The body works hard to repair the damage and to utilize other nerves to take over the job of the damage nerves, but overtime the damage accumulates and that leads to a worsening disability.
Female Speaker: Jennifer started her treatment program shortly after being diagnosed with MS.
Jennifer Hauxhurst: I went through the steroid treatment that was really, really rough, it takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. I cried for two weeks straight. I gained ten pounds in a month, it was terrible.
Female Speaker: Now Jennifer is receiving weekly injections of an interferon agent that has been shown to slow the rate of progression of disability and relaxing, remedying MS.
Jennifer Hauxhurst: Right now things are tough for me because I'm still in a lot of pain. I haven't come to a place where you know having fun and just have a stable point, you know, my stomach might be -- and I try to be positive.
Dr. Richard Rudick: The change is absolutely everything for young people. They face some uncertain future, but at least the possibility of devastating neurologic disability, loss of their roles, independence, and its scares them to death.
Female Speaker: Multiple Sclerosis is not considered a fatal condition nor is it contagious. Many people with early stages of the disease enjoy active, productive lifestyles with only sporadic symptoms and contrary to popular belief; the majority of individuals with MS do not become severely disabled.
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