Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

What is a MS Specialist?

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    What is a MS Specialist?

    And what can they do that a regular Neuro can't? It was suggested to me that I see a MS Specialist. But we don't have any near here. I'd have to travel about 4 hours at the very least and I'm not up to that and my husband is in worse shape than I am.

    I don't think my MS is that bad. I do have some weird, touchy symptoms and several other autoimmune things going on. But I think our local Neurologists seem to know enough about this and have done whatever can be done. I mean, if there was some miracle that a specialist could do, wouldn't they pass that information on to other doctors??
    Marti




    The only cure for insomnia is to get more sleep.
    Tags: None
    #2
    An MS specialist is just a neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis. That being said they tend to know more just because they study it exclusively and all their patients are people with MS where as a general neurologist deals with everything neurological. If you're comfortable with your neurologist I say stick with them. Good luck!

    ~Elly~
    I choose to live and to grow, take and give and to move, learn and love and to cry, kill and die and to be paranoid and to lie, hate and fear and to do what it takes to move through.

    Comment

      #3
      I believe that it is a subjective label that people use. I am unaware of any MS subspecialty in the USA. Experience and accreditation are two separate things.

      Comment

        #4
        An MS specialist is usually a neuroimmunologist who studies MS. They are usually gathered in and around hospital settings, mostly teaching hospitals that do research. They only see persons with MS, or in the diagnostic process. These specialists are experts at looking at MRIs and other testing related to MS.

        A regular neurologist can also treat an MS patient, however, you may be the only MS patient he/she has ever had, or 1 or 5 in the course of their whole practice. Whereas with the MS specialist you are 1 of 1000 at that time.

        The MS specialist is more up to date on the latest medications for the most part. They also can offer you studies to participate in for the latest thing. If you like your regular neurologist, then keep them. However, if they have referred you to an MS specialist, it is worth the trip.

        Take care
        Lisa
        Moderation Team
        Disabled RN with MS for 14 years
        SPMS EDSS 7.5 Wheelchair (but a racing one)
        Tysabri

        Comment

          #5
          I wonder if I could send my MRI's to one of these guys for a kind of consultation. Has anyone had any experience with this? And thanks guys. I understand now.
          Marti




          The only cure for insomnia is to get more sleep.

          Comment

            #6
            Marti, I too was hesitant to see an MS Specialist. I have to take a train 2 1/2 hours to get there, in Chicago. That was one of my reasons

            Another was, I also don't consider myself "that bad". But apparently, the 2 Neuros is saw in my area weren't that familiar with MS.

            It is a HUGE difference (at least in my case). The specialist noticed things right away. He believes I have spinal lesions due to the way I walk and a few other things. He referred me to another specialist (movement specialist) for another issue he noticed, that I had had for about a year, and he upped a few of my meds.

            The local Neuros were leery of upping the meds simply beccause they weren't as familiar with our symptoms and the many meds we often times need just to be comfortable (if at all possible)

            Hope this helps, but whatever you decide, take care.

            Comment

              #7
              Diagnosis of MS is tricky, it's true, but most of what we need from our neurologists is management of a chronic and constantly changing disease. What most general neurologists seem to do best is diagnose. It is not a specialty known for disease management.

              There are so many variables with MS, and so much attention to be paid over the long haul, that I strongly prefer a doctor who specializes, ideally at an MS Center.

              My doctor can articulate why she decided to specialize in MS, and when I ask her a question, about my likely prognosis, possibility of DMD side effects, or pros/cons of new drugs, her answer is based on actually treating many, many MS patients over the years and participating in research and observational studies.

              For what it's worth, I saw a general neurologist first (a very well-regarded guy in NYC) when I was getting diagnosed and he bungled my treatment in a number of ways I won't go into.

              A great book for anyone to read is "How Doctors Think." Doctors, like all of us, rely on their experiences to make decisions, etc. Yes that includes a baseline of training that all doctors get in general and in subspecialty, but it also involves who/what they see in their office year after year.

              Comment

                #8
                MS Specialist

                Marti, I'm not sure where you are at in the Ozarks, but I see a MS Specialist(neurologist) in Columbia, MO and he does come to the Lake of the Ozarks one day a week if that would help you at all. You can email me if you would like more information.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by floatingurboat View Post
                  An MS specialist is just a neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis. That being said they tend to know more just because they study it exclusively and all their patients are people with MS where as a general neurologist deals with everything neurological. If you're comfortable with your neurologist I say stick with them. Good luck!

                  ~Elly~
                  This. My two previous neuros were awesome, but mostly treated stroke patients and whatnot. The difference between them and the specialist I see is pronounced.
                  Aitch - Writer, historian, wondermom. First symptoms in my teens, DX'd in my twenties, disabled in my thirties. Still the luckiest girl in the world.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    My MS Specialist is awesome. The quality of my life has improved because they are kept more aware of what the latest research is. My Specialist has some pretty fancy equipment (like for the eyes and bladder) that has come in handy. I didn't have to get a referral to the urologist when I was having bladder issues. ON was ruled out when I was having blurry vision. I can go on and on. This does depend on which MS specialist you see, though.

                    I used to see a regular neurologist, but his office was packed with people from migraines, to back pain sufferers, etc. I waited on average for 2 hours (sometimes was even more). Plus, he didn't always spend the amount of time he needed with me. When I had changes in my MRI, he was ready to place me on more aggressive treatment, but couldn't answer my questions I had related to the treatment. That's when I saw the MS specialist. As it turned out, I didn't need this treatment. The MRI was done without MS protocol and the "new" lesions were probably missed. Plus, the new treatment wouldn't work for me because it would have lowered my immune system which does not work for someone exposed to TB.

                    Everyone's experience is different, but if you find a good MS specialist, this person is better prepared to handle MS in my opinion.

                    Comment

                    Previous template Next
                    Working...
                    X