Featuring Barry A. Hendin, MD
Question: Is anxiety a common symptom of MS, and if so, what are the signs and symptoms?
Answer: Anxiety is, indeed, a common symptom of MS. It is estimated to occur in almost half of the MS population, at some point. It often coexists with depression but can occur independently of depression. Unfortunately, anxiety is under-recognized and undertreated due to the clinical emphasis on depression alone.
Continue reading
Question: How often is an MRI recommended, and is it still needed when symptoms have not worsened?
Answer: Although there is a wide variation in the use and frequency of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing in neurological practices, it may be helpful to begin by considering why we get MRI scans for people with MS.
Continue readingQuestion: As we enter into the New Year, what strategies do you recommend for positive mental and emotional health?
Answer: Of all the questions I’ve been asked over the past couple of years this is probably the most difficult to answer… and to answer briefly. For some people, positive mental and emotional health comes more easily and naturally. It doesn’t require a strategy or a lot of work. Perhaps it’s the good luck of genetics or a positive and nurturing upbringing. But clearly for some people, happiness is more difficult and requires more work. For the latter and probably much larger group, it does require more work, and more effort, and maybe a strategy. It’s clear to me that the effort is worth undertaking!
Continue reading
Question: How do you determine when a relapse is severe enough to be treated with IV steroids versus waiting to see if the relapse will go away on its own? Also, if a patient does not receive IV steroids, what other treatments or changes in lifestyle may be recommended for a less-severe relapse?
Answer: Clinicians vary widely in their threshold for using steroids for relapses… and patients vary widely in their desire to be treated with steroids for relapses. The most common use of steroids is for a relapse that interferes with function. For example, severe vertigo, weakness, or gait dysfunction are common symptoms that can greatly interfere with function.
Continue reading