Product Description
Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn’t have to mean your life is over. Everyone’s MS is different and no one can predict exactly what yours will be like.

The fact is, lots of people live their lives with MS without making a full-time job of it.

MS for Dummies gives you easy to access, easy to understand information about what happens with MS—what kinds of symptoms it can cause, how it can affect your life at home and at work, what you can do to feel and function up to snuff, and how you can protect yourself and your family against the long-term unpredictability of the disease. You'll learn:

• Why some people get MS and others don’t
• How to make treatment and lifestyle choices that work for you
• What qualities to look for in a neurologist and in the rest of your healthcare team
• How to manage fatigue, walking problems, and visual changes
• Why the road to diagnosis can be full of twists and turns
• How to understand the pros and cons of alternative medicine
• Why and how to talk to your kids about MS
• How to find stress management strategies that work for you
• Your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act

Complete with listings of valuable resources such as other books, Web sites, and community agencies and organizations that you can tap for information or assistance, MS for Dummies will tell you everything you need to know in order to make educated choices and comfortable decisions about life with MS. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Title Should Be "Guide to Multiple Sclerosis Professionals for Dummies"
The title for this book should be "Guide to Multiple Sclerosis Professionals for Dummies" because the current title "Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies" is misleading.The book does practically nothing to explain the disorder, its causes, physiology, treatments and lifestyle risk factors that any MS patient can and should understand.It's written by MS professionals who are also MS patients about how they obviously think the ideal MS patient who is cluelessly dependent on MS professionals should behave.Instead of containing information about MS, it's primarily just an explanation of what professionals you should see, what the professionals will do, and how to help professionals do their job of taking care of you.

The diagnostic chapter is full of descriptions of what professionals will do to diagnose you, not a medical explanation of the diagnostic criteria.It's full of general, patronizing advice like instructions to bring all your medical records to the doctor's office, that should occur to any idiot with any complex disease.In the section about difficulty speaking, the advice is to see a language therapist.In the section about difficulty with motor skills, the advice is to see physical therapists.

90% of the information in this book is not about MS the medical problem, rather it's a guide to working with MS professionals.And you not only have to be a dummy to want this book, but you can expect to remain clueless about the disease after reading it.

The chapter on Complementary Medicine consists of a few pages only, and most of that is wasted on counseling people about the "allure" of easy cures and the placebo effect while containing glaring omissions.For example, the book makes no mention of the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet, which is extremely useful in any disease that has chronic inflammation as a mechanism.Elsewhere in the book, the authors glibly advise people that they can get corticosteroids from their doctor to help reduce inflammation in damaged neural tissues.Needless to say, taking steroids to reduce inflammation carries risks of side effects that are particularly difficult for MS patients, whereas an anti-inflammatory diet is healthful and free of side effects.The lack of mention of an anti-inflammatory diet is only one of the few glaring omissions in this chapter.

If you're the kind of person who needs a book to orient you to working with doctors, that will tell you little else about your disease, this is the book for you.If you want to understand what is happening to your body, there are only a couple of pages in this book that are relevant

This is the first time I'm going to try to return a book to Amazon.I hope I can get a refund.

MS Book
The book "Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies" arrived on time and in good condition.The book has been a great help in understanding all aspects of MS.I am happy with the purchase.Thanks.

Great Info
Having had MS for over 25 years I found this book to be very informative.It's a great reference tool for both the newly diagnosed and those of us that have lived with MS for several years.I am better able now to reference a symptom correctly when discribing a problem to my neurologist.I am better informed therefore a better patient.I like having a say-so in my treatments.

Excellent Overview and Reference Guide About MS
After 22 months of symptoms, the diagnosis now has a name . . . it's MS. I checked this book out at our local library. It is such an exceptional reference guide that I have purchased my own copy. I learned so much about 'why' and 'how' the bowels and bladder are affected, and laughter suddenly turns to tears. Understanding the four courses of MS is also key to understanding this disease. I needed a rapid education on MS so that I can ask the right questions during my neurologist's visit. I even recommended the book to my neurologist so that he could suggest it to his patients. If you select only one MS book, this is the one you want in your library.

Newly diagnosed
It's very helpful.Alot of my questions are answered.It answered question my doctor didn't answer.The only thing is that you have to jump around to different chapters,but that okay.It really is very informative.I would recommend this book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Fantastic guidance for MS patients, and others
Very helpful, inexpensive ideas for managing cognitive, emotional, and physical fatigue.Many suggestions require simple rearrangments in the home- where things are kept/how they are stored...

Keep fighting MS !!
While ten people living with MS may not report the same exacerbations, treatments and impediments, most of them may be dealing with fatigue.While often taken for granted as an MS symptom, the implications of fatigue are powerful for the MS individual.

This book is like a diverse menu at a good restaurant, where you may sample and select what appeals to you.Digesting the material will take effort, but like the title suggests - it is a fight.Don't kid yourself - making real life changes, as outlined by the information and charts in the book, will never happen by itself. However, with a carefully advised choice of this book's strategies, a person can make meaningful changes to better cope with fatigue - now.

Perhaps, it is best to not attempt to absorb all of the tactics at once.Trying to follow an outline to re-structure your entire routine can be overwhelming and exhausting - making the point about fatigue hit home.This book should empower people with MS to create new habits and not merely be a witness to progressive impediments.The key to success of the offered strategies may be to have an informed discussion with an appropriate medical professional and construct a personal template to gain control over fatigue.Having a supportive person to reinforce the set changes may also be vital to making a true change in personal habits, maximizing the benefit of the book's tactics.With patience and well-targeted persistence, this can be done.

Lowenstein calls it out, acknowledging the burden of the MS fatigue that you have been enduring and gives you permission to do something about it for yourself - book in hand.

not nearly the best
i was sadly disappointed by this book.200 pages, half of which were half-filled out tables.on the good side, the print was big and the spacing was generous, leading me to read this book in less than 2 hours.two tables described the incorrect material, which should have been caught by the author or at least a demos editor.two tables showed 3 levels in block but the actual table just showed three line bars without separated identification.diet is more important and requires greater detail.psychological practices and beliefs and interpersonal relations matter when we discuss fatigue and should have been brought out.it's hard for us to delegate things, and i'd love to see someone discuss how this ought to be accomplished.while i recognize that the author is an OTR, she ought to have included a chapter or two on medications and vitamins and alternative therapies, even if she would have had to include a neurologist, nutritionist, and alternative therapies practitioner as co-authors.if i were just starting out looking at fatigue in ms, i'd probably first go to the nmss web site which covers lots more information.most of the other available books, including kalb's dummies book, includes more information on fatigue than this book did, and i wasn't terribly impressed with it, either.this book, on the other hand, is balanced and seems objective and did not contain lots of grammatical errors.i liked the chapter on storage, especially, and i found it very useful.i really hate to give a book a low rating and review, but, in this case, the book was written in a less than comprehensive manner, was filled out with material that was unnecessary, and was a perfect waste of my $13 or so.i'd give it a D, the first D that i've ever given.sorry.

ummm, since i wrote this review, i consulted with my physician who prescribed medication that very effectively manages fatigue, for which i'm immensely grateful. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

yoga and multiple sclerosis
As an acupuncturist/bodyworker working with clients with early MS, I was hoping to find a resource that I could recommend to someone new to yoga.This book contains a lot of good material, but it assumes too much familiarity with yoga to be useful to the general MS sufferer who is looking for complimentary ways to work with the effects of their illness.The section on chair/wheelchair yoga is good, but anyone new to yoga would need a teacher to guide them into it.

The book is not well organized; it actually seems like parts of 2 articles spliced together.The material about why/how yoga is helpful for someone with MS, which I expected at the opening of the book, is not mentioned until later on and then is not clearly presented.Actually, Loren Fishman's other book on "Yoga and Arthritis" is much more helpful to yoga teacher and potential practitioner - with arthritis or or any other structural issues or those hoping to avoid future problems.

Yoga and Muultiple Sclerosis: A Journey to Health and Healing
This book gives detailed illustrations and directions, but it is helpful to get a DVD of the exercises (available from the Northern & Southern California Chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at a reduced price if you purchase the book).I am unable to use most of these exercises detailed in the book as I do not have access to a certified yoga instructor (that also has certification to work with people with Multiple Sclerosis)to assist me in doing them.The book it better suited to individuals who live in larger population areas with an expert yoga instructor.

great exercises
I am an MS patient and this book provides great detailed photos and descriptions for workouts of all types.

"Yoga And Multiple Sclerosis" is especially recommended for those who are experiencing symptoms across the MS spectrum
The collaborative work of Loren M. Fishman (Assistant Clinical Professor in Rehabilitation at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons) and Eric L. Small (an expert yoga instructor who was diagnosed with MS at the age of 22), "Yoga And Multiple Sclerosis" is specifically designed to instruct MS patients in the benefits of yoga exercises which can be tangible beneficial for those afflicted with this neurologic disease. Ideal for the non-specialist general reader, "Yoga And Multiple Sclerosis" describes how yoga works. The text is enhanced with photographs and descriptions of each yoga pose and clearly explains their effects, advantages, and contraindications. Of special value the yoga novice are the 'starter poses' that enable the uninitiated or physically challenged to gently achieve a yoga posture. An important acquisition for personal and community library Health & Medicine instructional reference collections, "Yoga And Multiple Sclerosis" is especially recommended for those who are experiencing symptoms across the MS spectrum (including anyone in a wheelchair or who has limited mobility) and seek to raise their functional abilities and thereby foster both their physical independence and their psychological morale.

A LONG-AWAITED BOOK
For those with MS, Loren Fishman and Eric Small's well-illustrated book offers substantial help in coping with this illness in both its relapsing-remitting and progressive forms through the practice of Yoga, the benefits of which are grounded in solid research and long experience. Eric Small is a living testament to the power of Yoga.Loren Fishman has practiced Yoga for decades as well and is also featured in the book along with Eric Small and other Yoga practitioners.

Yoga Therapy is one of the fastest growing forms of Yoga in the US, and with it comes more specialization and focus. BKS Iyengar has been at the forefront of this specialization for decades and Eric Small acknowledges this great master's work at the outset.Students unfamiliar with the use of props typical of Iyengar Yoga are charmingly encouraged to use whatever is at hand, including a bag of flour or rice if a sandbag is unavailable.

The reader will come away with a clear idea of how to begin a practice appropriate to the student's physical capacity, with illustrations for each level.Loren Fishman's sweeping and lyrical introduction helps set this focused practice within the larger context of Yoga as a whole.Indeed, it is the nature of Yoga Therapy to place the whole person at the center of a whole practice, inviting the student to participate not only as someone with a problem, but as someone with a full life interested in exploring Yoga in all its facets.In other words, this book doesn't show a student just how to use Yoga for MS, but how to have a full Yoga practice with MS.

I agree with B. Wells that the photographs in the first section could be numbered and related to the text.I would also welcome explanations in the Benefits section for each pose of how the poses actually affect the body.One takes on faith that a pose will help with urinary disorders, for example, but for the interested and curious student, how or why that is would be welcome information.

This book is accessible and valuable to all, from beginning student to teacher wanting to help a student with MS or a student having suffered stroke or other trauma to the nervous or muscular system.Eric Small's own trajectory through MS and Yoga is inspiring.

Alison West, Ph.D., Co-Director, Yoga Union Center for Backcare and Scoliosis, NY NY ... Read more

Product Description
My Story is an evocative description of what it is like to live with multiple sclerosis.Through the use of photography, Amelia shows the many faces behind MS.From soccer moms to teenagers to celebrities, she reveals how peoples’ lives are affected by MS, and, more importantly, demonstrates how peoples’ lives go on after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.My Story unlocks the door for open and honest dialogue for the families and friends of the men and women with MS. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Great glimpse into the lives of people with MS
I love this quote above:

"...[offers] encouragement and inspiration for anyone coming to terms with what it means to be a person with [MS]." -- Consumer Connections, Winter 2004

I think this is the perfect description of this book. My Story: A Photographic Essay on Life with Multiple Sclerosis uses photographs along with short essays giving us a glimpse into the lives of 32 people living with MS. Contributors share the story of their life and how Multiple Sclerosis has changed them as well as the things they discovered that stay the same no matter what life throws at you. Photographs by Amelia Davis accompany each essay showing us the faces behind MS.

For every essay written by a person with Multiple Sclerosis in this book there is a companion essay written by their caregiver. Behind every person with a chronic illness be it MS or something else there is always someone and often a lot of someones caring for those people. If not physically then mentally and emotionally. not for a second can the plight of the individuals with the illness be downplayed, but those surrounding and supporting those people must not be forgotten, My Story does a wonderful job of including these people while at the same time not taking away from the individuals they are caring for.

very good!
I really did like this book. It is wonderfully done and I like how each chapter focuses on a different person & their loved ones. The pictures are fantastic and I really like the format of this book. I recommend it to young & old people alike.

My Story is Really Their Stories
Ameila Davis is a documentary photographer, diagnosed with MS in 1998.

Though titled "My Story", this book is really "their stories". In this book, she uses her trained eye to illustrate 32 essays personally portraying the lives of men and women with Multiple Sclerosis.

They range from 17 to 70, across a spectrum of ethnicities, genders, occupations, socio-economic backgrounds and family circumstances.

Through her book, Amelia captures the unique approach each person has used to frame their chronic disease with, not only a positive attitude, but with a positive approach to life.

She also includes the caregivers ... those frequently forgotten in the struggle with MS and all chronic disease.

Her essays help others to see, through the stories of real people, the different possible treatments and therapies and the techniques for coping (such as exercise, yoga, creative activities and competitive sports).

Her photographs capture the people behind these essays, putting a real face, a personal face, on what is often discussed in impersonal, clinical terms. You don't just read their story; you are drawn into a human connection with them.

This is a book to buy and read. And it is also a book to buy and display, a coffee table book.

Discussing MS with friends and family can be difficult. Chronic disease can create a "distance", a separation. This book can help to bridge that gap.

As someone picks up this book to browse and becomes captured by the photographs, it can crack the door to an open conversation about MS, about what it means and about how lives continue after diagnosis.

One of a Kind
I want to congratulate Amelia Davis on creating a book that is different from all of the other MS books.Her book reaches into the lives of people living with MS and shares some of the feelings that caregivers and friends experience as well.

This is a wonderfully unique look at the amazing people who are challeged by this disease and how they live extraordinary lives in spite of it.Amelia's photography is a window into this world, her work is "present" and revealing of who people are.

my story:an open window
I happen to have MS and one of the problems of having a little understood illness is the distance it creates in one's personal relationships.Even with friends and family.

I nowhave a copy of "My Story" on my coffee table and I'm truly amazed by the number of people who, because of the presence of the book, are finally able to speak and ask questions about MS .They glance through the book and suddenly a dialog window opens.

The photos are superb,respectful and celebratory at the same time and every person's essay is different.I highly recommend the book.

... Read more

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"This book represents the most current information on the care of the MS patient .This will be an unparalleled resource for all nurses caring for MS patients and families."

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Customer Reviews (4)

Just as promised
I received the book in the condition that was stated on the site!!Shipped promptly.Will use this seller in the future.

Helped with current challenges being faced with
As being a person newly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I find this book quite informative for some of the challenges I am currently facing. It has also helped me speak with my neurologist and take some actions that were needed.

Good coverage of this topic
Like so many topics relating to multiple sclerosis, cognitive challenges are hard to pinpoint because they vary among patients and can be affected by other factors as well, such as age or other neurologic conditions.I thought the authors have done a good job listing and defining elements of the subject: cognition, the assessment of cognitive changes, treatment, and coping and/or managing strategies.
I must insist that fatigue does effect cognitive abilities.Most of us with the disease will probably agree that tasks requiring cognitive skills are better fulfilled early in the day or after a period of rest.More tests of this connection will, I believe, bear out the ideas given here.
This is definitely an important read for MS-ers and those who interact with them.

MS:Understanding Cognitive Challenges
As a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse who also has MS, I found this to be a fairly comprehensive, yet easily understood discussion of why we sometimes falter mentally with MS. The description and role of neuropsychological testing in treatment and defining disability was sketchy at best but did provide a basic underpinning for the logic of doing this type of testing.

What I did not agree with was the role of fatigue and cognitive deficit. The authors were clear that they were aware of this correlation but could find no proof. Their sample sizes in the studies done in this area were, admittedly, quite small. ... Read more

Product Description
This completely revised edition of the best-selling Multiple Sclerosis: The Guide to Treatment and Management is a comprehensive, accessible guide to the present therapeutic options and their efficacy. Special features include expert opinion statements for each MS therapy; a unique guide to the wide diversity of therapeutic options available; a thorough discussion of the usefulness, effectiveness, and side effects of individual treatments; a new chapter on unconventional therapies; and a detailed guide to further reading.This compendium of the most frequently used treatments for multiple sclerosis is an authoritative reference for all physicians and a factual guide for patients who need information about therapies. For reader accessibility, the book is organized into sections dealing with the treatment of acute exacerbations, disease-modifying therapies, symptom management, and alternative therapies. Each chapter in the new edition concludes with references, especially useful for readers who want more information about the therapies discussed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

MS Book
The book was received on time and in good condition.I am happy with the transaction.Thanks.

Very clinical
This IS a wonderful book; however I found it to be too clinical.It seems perfect for the doctor who wants to keep abreast of current treatments for MS.I'm looking for a book that talks more about the symptoms...how to cope....how to deal with fatigue and MS in general. I'm just newly diagnosed and wanted a "down home" approach to finding information.I came back to buy MS for Dummies...sounds silly, but I've found those books to be informative in an almost TOO simple fashion...but it's what I need right now at the beginning of this journey.

The best and most responsible update of MS
This is a book every MS patent should read. Especially those in early stages. This book is a very thorough and responsible review of MS

Excellent resource
When I was diagnosed my doctor threw 4 prescriptions at me for various steriods and other drugs and sent me on my way - wouldn't answer my questions (too busy)So off I went, got the perscriptions filled, had a nurse insert an IV and got busy.Luckily I had ordered this book in anticipation of the diagosis and it arrived as I started treatment.The first chapter is on Treatment for acute eexacerbations and it explained everything!The following chapters are: Treatments that effect long term course of the disease (the interferon drugs used in the US as well as drugs being used in other parts of the world and those under development), Symptomatic treatment of MS (fatigue, bladder issues, cognition, all the basic symptoms), Alternative therapies (some strange things mentioned here but the authors diplomatically describe what they are, id the risks and provide evaluations/conclusions).I really like this book.It helped me when my doctor could not....now I've got a better doctor, one who specializes in MS, but I still use this book to augment my understanding. ... Read more

Product Description
Fresh ideas on how to cope with the ever-changing challenges of multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis: A Self-Care Guide toWellness concentrates on wellness -- unlike most books about multiple sclerosis that are medically oriented and related to disease anddysfunction. It is particularly appropriate in these times of managed care and the trend for health-care consumers to be well informed. Thischronic, often progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord follows a variable course, requiring patients to make significant changes inactivities of daily living on a variety of levels - physical, emotional, social, vocational, financial, and spiritual. This book offers practical tips onself-care for maximum independence, well-being, and productivity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gives you information should know if you have MS
This book was written with a detail and consideration for someone who has MS. It is a book that explains medicines, gives the bad and good, gives information about resources available to people who have MS and practical information on exercise, practical physical information and is all given with respect for the person who has MS.It has great insight into all foreseeable problems of someone with MS. Although it takes care to explain mainstream medicine, it doesn't reject a person's right to try alternative medicine.Some of this stuff in this book is available elsewhere, but it is great to have reminders under one cover.

I don't know the authors, but they did a great job.Since I was diagnosed with MS years ago, I read every book on MS. This book is going right on my kitchen shelf with Judy Graham's book and Swanks Diet book for MS.
... Read more

Product Description
Since 1955, this landmark masterwork has been revered for its authoritative presentation of the entire state of scientific and clinical knowledge about multiple sclerosis. The state-of-the-art 4th Edition presents the most recent information on the genetics and epidemiology, clinical neurology, pathogenesis, and management of this common neurological disease. Amply illustrated and referenced and beautifully written, McAlpine's Multiple Sclerosis has been described as "A standard reference for multiple sclerosis researchers, embryonic 'MS-ologists' and hard-pressed clinical neurologists alike" (Brain, review of the last edition).

• Reviews the earliest clinical and pathological descriptions of multiple sclerosis.
• Offers a very strong section on pathogenesis.
• Includes more than 550 high-quality illustrations clarifying important scientific and clinical concepts.
• Uses a remarkably clear presentation to make complicated data as easy as possible to understand.

Customer Reviews (2)

McAlpine's Multiple Sclerosis
As I am very much interested scientifically in this field, I can very much recommend this book as it represents an enormous collection of information according to this disease and is written in fluent and entertaining style.

Review of McAlpine's Multiple Sclerosis, Fourth Edition (2005)
If you are interested in buying this book, examine it first at your local medical library to make sure it is what you are looking for.

This six-pound reference work is updated about every 7 years and serves as a repository for the latest world-wide MS information. It attempts to organize thousands of research study conclusions and to provide the reader with a coherent status report on many different aspects of MS, both clinical and scientific.

Physically, the text is a work of art. Pages are large, thick and opaque with a solid binding and cover. One finds many photos, tables, charts and other color graphic elements. There are 810 pages of text (in a well-chosen font) followed by about 6,600 references (135 pages!).

The writing is excellent, sometimes just a bit formal with a penchant for lengthy sentences. A non-MD reader will need wiki and dictionary.com at the ready. The book is not designed as a primary teaching tool -- the reader is assumed to already know a lot about MS and related scientific subjects (eg, neurobiology). Each of the 19 chapters is written by a declared subset of the eight expert authors.

Here is the structure they chose for this edition, along with a brief outline of the contents of the book: (the full contents appears on the Elsevier site).

Section 1:One chapter (1) reviewing the history of MS up to the start of the modern era, circa 1980. Well-due homage is paid to many workers of the past, from Galen to Charcot to Marburg to Kurtzke to McAlpine.

Section 2:Four chapters covering these topics: (2) the mysterious geographical and racial distribution of MS prevalence throughout the world; (3) results of classical genetics research using linkage and association studies (multiple genes are implicated); (4) details of the (highly variable) course of the disease (the natural history of MS); and (5) a concisely-stated likely theory of how MS arose as mankind spread itself over the earth. The identical twin concordance rate for MS is about 30%, suggesting a definite mix of genetic and environmental factors which conspire to cause MS.

Section 3:Four chapters on clinical aspects of MS: (6) its symptoms of which there are, unfortunately, many; (7) how to diagnose MS, using clinical and paraclinical evidence such as MRI and evoked potentials, with a review of recent McDonald diagnostic criteria; (8) how to differentiate MS from diseases with similar symptoms; (9) a summary giving advice to the neurologist.

Section 4:We leave the clinic and enter the MS research labs. Five chapters cover the following huge subjects: (10) the cell biology of MS: T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, astrocytes, dendritics, microglia, oligodendrocytes and all their precursors, and inter-cell signaling. Topics include demyelination, axon degeneration, and the encouraging remyelination process. (11) MS from the viewpoint of autoimmunity:innate and adaptive components, EAE animal models, penetration of the BBB, antibodies in the CSF, biomarkers. (12) MS pathology: lesions/plaques, inflammation, demyelination, lots of histology here. (13) details of the physical damage done by MS to neurons, methods used to study same, blockage of signal conduction, the scary role of nitric oxide. This is the physiology of the pathology of MS. (14) This short chapter summarizes the way MS is thought to work: T cells are activated possibly by a myelin mimic molecule in the periphery, they cross the BBB and instigate a horrendous CNS battle involving just about all the players and their various weapons. Inflammation, demyelination and axon damage occur, the battle ends, and the result is a lesion which shows up on MRI and results in a clinical deficit if in an "eloquent" location. Progressive disease is thought to be a slow-burning widespread version of the same or a similar battle resulting in gradual loss of brain volume accompanied by increased clinical deficit.

Section 5: The closing five chapters concern the clinical treatment of MS patients. The first chapter (15) reviews issues which characterize the phases of MS, early middle and late. Early diagnosis is desired because early drug application might prevent neural damage. One chapter (16) deals specifically with how to treat the traditional MS acute relapse (steroids). Another (17) discusses the methods, usually drugs, for treating the many symptoms of MS. The authors emphasize disease management and rehab using family, nurses and other specialists and MS centers, in addition to the prescription of drugs. Then a long chapter (18) discusses the disease-modifying drugs discovered relatively recently: the beta interferons, glatiramer acetate, various monoclonal antibodies such as Campath-1H, etc. The final chapter (19) comments on issues involving Big Pharma influence on trials and drug-approving agencies, and foresees the future of MS treatment which will hopefully soon provide neuroprotection and repair.

Certain sections of the book can be rough sailing for the reader, as the authors painstakingly review a long series of research studies on a particular topic, giving a long one-sentence review of the conclusions of each study ( remember those 6600 references). Many study results are actively challenged and critiqued by the authors, who are not averse to stating their own opinions on many issues. Their message concerning trials is loud and clear:studies should be unbiased by drug companies' profit motives, fully randomized, placebo-controlled, fully double-blinded with crossover if possible, not terminated early unless futile or dangerous, and with sufficient statistical power to generate definite conclusions. The era of anecdotal MS trials is over.

Overall, this is an absolutely stunning and excellent book. It must have put a huge time burden on all eight of the authors. One hopes that only a few more editions will ever have to be published.

... Read more

Product Description
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, often progressive, and potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system. Onset of the disease is usually between the ages of 15 and 50, with the incidence nearly twice as high in women. While the cause of MS is still unknown, the predominant theory is that it is an autoimmune disease, triggered by an unknown environmental factor that results in both loss of central nervous system myelin and degeneration of axons and neurons. Although there have been a number of publications addressing different aspects of MS treatment in the neurological literature, there is a dearth of material on MS designed for internists and primary care physicians, who are often the first to see patients presenting symptons of MS. Therefore, this concise, clinically focused volume will serve as a valuable resource tailored to the specific needs of internists and primary care physicians.
Part of the Oxford Neurology Library, this highly practical pocketbook covers current approaches and new developments in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of MS, including both early and advanced stages of the disease. The book offers in-depth coverage of special populations, as well as the more unusual manifestations of MS, which are less familiar to the internal medicine audience. It will also address the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of MS. In addition to providing up-to-date information on pharmacological therapies for MS, the book also describes an array of non-pharmacological treatment options. ... Read more

Product Description

Kym Orsetti Furney was a 34-year-old physician enjoying her exciting career and life with her husband and young daughter when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. At first terrified, Furney has rebounded from the shock of diagnosis and -- empowered by information, treatment, and support -- continues her work as a doctor, teacher, wife, and parent despite the challenges of MS.

Here she offers help and hope to other people coping with a new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Her valuable insights into this incurable and unpredictable disease help readers understand the physical, emotional, and practical aspects of MS. Reflecting on her own experience after diagnosis, she discusses the many challenges patients face -- from depression and overcoming the fear of injection medications, to how and when to tell others that you have MS, to the disease's impact on career and family.

Readers will find in Furney an informed and reassuring partner, a physician who understands the facts while embracing the conviction that people with MS can enjoy a full and rewarding life. In an appendix, she discusses scientific aspects of the disease as well as the side effects of common medications taken by people with MS.

This medically up-to-date and compassionate book offers guidance not only to patients and their families but also to healthcare professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, and physical and occupational therapists.

Customer Reviews (19)

A Welcome Addition to your MS Library
This is a very helpful-and very human- discussion of MS and the havoc it can introduce into one's life.

As a first-hand book, written by someone who has traveled down that road, it can be enormously valuable to those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

There are many books out there that help one deal with this subject.There are books on Nutrition, Diet, Exercise, Ayurvedic Medicine, Yoga, Herbals, wholistics, etc.Most often, these are written by health care workers, rather than by patients themselves.Do a quick search on Amazon & you'll come up with a lot of titles.Where to start?

This book is a helpful discussion ofthe traditional medical approaches to MS.

It has clearly been documented that people taking the A,B,C, Rof traditional MS therapy have positively impacted their illness.(Avonex, Beta Seron, Copaxone, Rebif). However, as MSdoes not behave uniformly in everyone, a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing both traditional and alternative will hopefully be of benefit.Number One- Do No Harm!

The author of this book, Dr. Kym Orsetti Furney MD, offers a traditional and valuable perspective on this subject.Dr. Furney has a very pleasant andreadable writing style.

This book is possibly most helpful to those newly diagnosed -once they are ready to read about MS.

Other helpful ways to approach this chronic new lifestyle can be through some other very good avenues:

Books:

A great place to start:

*Symptom Management in Multiple Sclerosis (Paperback)
~ Randall T. Schapiro

Written a while ago, & updated. Still extremely relevant. Answeers those troubling questions right from the start.

Not yet released (2010)

*Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: An Evidence-Based Guide to Recovery (Paperback)
~ George Jelinek

Looking forward to this one!


*Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis by Allen C. Bowling (Paperback - Nov. 13, 2006)
Alternative Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis (Paperback)

Allen C. Bowling

The definitive word on complementary approaches in MS is by Dr. Bowling.


*Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis: A Journey to Health and Healing by M.D. Loren Martin Fishman, B. Phil, and Eric Small (Paperback - May 28, 2007)


*The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book by Roy Laver Swank and Barbara Brewer Dugan (Hardcover - Mar. 24, 1987)

The definitive dietary voice!

*The MS Recovery Diet (Paperback)
Ann Sawyer (Author), Judith Bachrach (Author) \

Nicely written

*Cooking Well: Multiple Sclerosis: Over 75 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Nutritional Healing
by Marie Courtier and Vincent F. Macaluso MD (Paperback - June 30, 2009)

Very nice & enjoyable recipes. Well written.

*Multiple Sclerosis: The Questions You Have, the Answers You Need by Ph.D. Rosalind C. Kalb (Paperback - Oct. 28, 2007)

* In My Shoes: A Journey to Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis by Mary Monaghan Sypawka (Paperback - Oct. 4, 2007)



There are some very helpful teleconferences (pick up your phone & dial in-hear a nice 30 minute talk & then it's questions & answers!):

National MS Society: go to their website & sign up.

Shared Solutions:(Call & ask about their monthly teleconferences) or go to their website & sign up.

MS Lifelines: go to their website & sign up.


Good luck to all!

Offers hope to others coping with an MS diagnosis
When the Diagnosis is Multiple Sclerosis: Help, Hope and Insights from an Affected Physician comes from a 34-year-old physician enjoying an exciting career and life when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Information, treatment and support offered her the ability to continue her work and life despite the challenges of MS, and her book offers hope to others coping with such a diagnosis. Any general lending library or health collection needs her insights.

Excellently balanced, comforting, and useful
If I had to pick one word to describe the book, I would say it is balanced. It is written by a patient who also happens to be a doctor, and so you receive comfort, optimism, realism, and information all in one excellent package. In fact, I cannot remember the last time I read a book that I found to be this perfect. So, while it can be frightening to open a book for fearing more ways in which life may be permanently altered, no such concern here. This book helps keep the reader grounded, and in optimism.

Everything is logically covered, starting with the moment of diagnosis. The first struggle for many may be the psychological response to a heavy diagnosis. Here the author gives her own personal experience, and hope from that personal experience which can be very encouraging indeed.

Next, out of psychological decisions the reader makes, comes the necessity of responsible self care to help ensure a good outcome. This section covers in detail the psychological and the practical aspects of self-injections and a heavy emphasis on taking the medications. There are reasons people don't want to, and there is a lot of help here in overcoming a potentially harmful decision.

Lots of good info here on informing others of the MS diagnosis, their responses, pros and cons, and of course help in determining whether to tell coworkers (also when and how) and making decisions about whether or not to work, have children, etc. These sections are packed with info from personal experience, medical facts, dealing with others, all from the standpoints of practical, psychological, emotional, etc. Really well-covered.

Then come the lifestyle choices of general self-care beyond medication, including diet and exercise, dealing with depression and fatigue, etc.

The book also helps with the process of becoming a patient and joining your doctor in the process of helping you with your disease.

As one might expect, the topic of potential disability will weigh heavily on the reader's mind, and lots of information is available here as well.
Doctor Kym Orsetti Furney ends the work with discussions about community involvement and the need for balance, something so carefully and expertly woven throughout the book. You get a list of resources, symptoms, medical info, etc.

This really is a fabulous book. For someone suffering from a new diagnosis, it can help with the grieving and response processes and guides the reader into making healthy choices that can greatly influence the outcome for the patient. Actually, come to think of it, this is a great read even for people who have medical issues not related to MS, because of the general theme of grounded optimism, hope, the necessity of self-care, and expert knowledge from a wonderfully caring person who has been there, both as a patient and a doctor. This would be good for anyone to read who is suffering from illness, and I will definitely recommend it.

For people who are not sick but want to help someone who is, it can be really useful to know what that person is going through, understand the challenges to be faced, and to be able to give greater help and hope based on understanding from both a medical and psychological standpoint.

That said, I do strongly support a holistic approach to illness and getting rid of the cause more than covering the symptoms. Dr. Orsetti Furney discusses a certain amount of this by way of diet and exercise in chapter 8.

Great read. Easily one of my favorites. Five stars.

Friendly, down to earth, easy to read
Reading this book is like sitting down with a good friend who will tell you the truth about a difficult subject.I cannot speak for people who have MS, but I found it very helpful in understanding the issues, the disease itself, treatment, people's reactions, and many of the decisions that some who is diagnosed with MS must face.This includes subjects such as when and how to inform others about the disease, including your children.The author, having MS herself, is not prescription but instead frankly discusses the issues around disclosure.Very readable and informative.

Excellent reference
A great resource for those diagnosed with MS or for those with a family member diagnosed with MS. It is not often a doctor with a medical condition writes a book to help guide others along the journey with a chronic illness. Well written, no nonsense, straight forward, sound advice, and resource list to help others navigate their way. ... Read more

Product Description
Text includes a state-of-the-art description of the history and epidemiology of MS, the current knowledge of the pathogenesis of the disease, differential consideration, and the rationales for and results of studies on immunomodulating therapies. Also covers the treatment of specific problems encountered by MS patients. For clinicians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

MS
This text is on the old side, however, of all the MS books I have read, this is the most comprehensive.

excellent resource!
like the other reviewer, i've read just about everything on this topic, except a couple of the most expensive medical texts without reviews.this book is very well written.chapter authors read like a who's who in the field and offer, in my mind, a certain degree of instant credibility.topics are fairly thoroughly discussed.not only did i read it the first week i bought it, but i've consulted it at least once or twice a month since then for management suggestions, which probably could be provided in a more practical format for patients or busy physicians.i think that anyone with m.s. who has an interest in the biology behind it would benefit from reading it, although there are times when it put me to sleep with levels of detail that i hadn't had the training to understand (although with a second read i was usually able to figure out those "difficult parts").you can't beat the used price and, frankly, i think it's worth the new price.while another reviewer had expressed disappointment that treatment was divided into relapsing and progressive forms, that really only occurs in 2 of the 36 chapters. two thumbs up! my biggest concern, at this point, is that most of the information is six to seven years old.neuroimaging techniques have advanced, medications have been introduced, removed, and re-introduced into the market, and general management procedures have changed since then.i'd buy an update (hint!).

Great book for those newly-diagnosed with MS
Well, since my MS diagnosis three months ago, I've gone through every book on the subject in my provincial library system.I've not left a page unturned in pamphlets, booklets, newsletters, etc.I'm just so eager for information on the subject, I can't get enough of it. And the best for information advice?No argument, hands down, it's this book.Okay, so it's probably supposedly a medical textbook but it's so darn great for people with MS to read, too.As a matter of fact, I could understand it more readily than some books written for laypeople.It was no-nonsense in its approach to the matter, and certainly not biased one way or the other re treatments, medications, progressions, what-have-you. It's sub-title should've been "Everything you wanted to know about MS - and much much much more".A laywriter writing a book, usually a person with MS, concentrates on his or her own symptoms but this book covers a multitude of them and explains in detail.It's not just mentioned that a person may have (for example) "sensory symptoms".It explains what "sensory symptoms" are to the nth degree.Not many GP's know much about the history, treatments, symptoms, signs of MS.I wish my doctor had this book on his shelf.My first sit-down read of it lasted three hours and I only got quarter-way through - and this without missing out one page.The rest of it I can dip into over time. I felt reassured reading this book, comfortable even.Forewarned is forearmed they say, and this book is forearming me well!!- I'm not (so) scared now. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Employment Issues and MS
Very pertinent and offers specific ideas that will assist an indivividual in just about any employment situation or stuggle you might find yourself in.

pretty helpful
phillip rumrill published the first edition in '96.this is, overall, a pretty helpful book.it discussed ms, unemployment, vocational assessment, job placement and retention, the ADA, tax benefits, as well as recommendations for policy and research.each chapter provides a very good, although brief and not very thorough, summary of each topic.while ADA originally was designed to be of benefit, case law has really taken a bite out of that legislation's actual helpfulness.the text seems like it straddles between a really practical book for those with ms and the scholarly.it is easy to read, clearly written, providing some helpful information that usually cites sources.i found most helpful the appendices on disability contacts and assistance technology assistance programs. i wish that it would have included chapters on adjustment and coping issues in the workplace, legal sources beyond ada, transportation to and from work, workplace health insurance and benefits issues that the person with ms specifically faces, dealing with prejudice and harassment and discrimination ...overall, it is a pretty good book, probably the most helpful book on the topic, the most accessible, not the most comprehensive.it is certainly worth the read, especially if you can borrow it from the library or the current edition is purchased used, maybe even new. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether You Are A Newly Diagnosed Patient Or A Loved One Of Someone With Multiple Sclerosis, This Book Offers Information And Comfort. Completely Revised And Updated, 100 Questions & Answers About Multiple Sclerosis, Second Edition Provides Authoritative, Practical Answers To The Most Common Questions Asked By Patients. Written By A Leading Specialist In The Treatment Of MS, This Easy-To-Read Book Is A Comprehensive Guide To Understanding Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, And Much More. Including Actual Commentary From Patients, 100 Questions & Answers About Multiple Sclerosis, Second Edition Is An Invaluable Resource For Anyone Coping With The Medical, Psychological, And Emotional Turmoil Of This Disease. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Questions answered so brilliantly......
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year and this book was a fantastic source of information and answers to my questions.I knew nothing about this illness when I was diagnosed but with reading and educating myself I have become more knowlegeable.This book is a very easy read with lots of insight.

Understanding MS
This is an excellent book for learning about the mysterious disease of MS. It answers some really basic questions and also provides information about the effects of MS. The question and answer format is very helpful and the index is thorough.

Having an MS patient commentary adds a valuable perspective to the subject.

Informative and personal
This book is a must have for any individual with MS or a family member of someone with MS.It is extremely informative yet very readable.I found the "Karen's comments" valuable, human and very moving. ... Read more

Product Description
When attorney Jeffrey N. Gingold misplaced his wife on the living room couch, and became lost while driving just blocks from his home, little did he know that he was experiencing a hidden symptom of multiple sclerosis: cognitive difficulties. Facing the Cognitive Challenges of Multiple Sclerosis is a courageous and compelling personal account of one mans anguishing struggle with this aspect of the disease. It was written for the silent majority of MS patients who are privately dealing with MS cognitive symptoms and potential disabilities. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates that over 400,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and there are millions more worldwide. Conservatively speaking, half of them will encounter varying degrees of cognitive difficulties. Facing the Cognitive Challenges of Multiple Sclerosis brings this hidden disability into the open. It is an essential resource that will educate individuals coping with multiple sclerosis, and inform their families, caregivers, doctors and therapists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Finally a helpful book!
All the other books I've checked into have been CLINICAL. I'm happy to say, reading this book from someone who has experienced these things was so comforting. I laughed and cried and totally related. I even requested my husband and mother to read it. Cognitive issues are hard to explain so I told them, if you want to know how I feel and what I'm thinking when these things happen, read this book! Loved it!!!

a fascinating, factual and fast read.
This book was a page turner compared to other books on this subject. it was a fascinating, factual and fast read. I learned more about the cognitive problems of MS in just a few hours than I had searching many journal articles. Other chronic and terminal diseases need a book of this type to inform the public.

Must have
As a person with MS, I find I can relate to the old joke, "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most".The cognitive losses associated with MS were the reason I left my job, the reason I have a self-awareness that I cannot be all that I can be.But to others, it is largely invisible, until I can't cover it any more, and collapse.
It's terrifying and totally destroying. This book was a godsend - both by describing what I was feeling and by offering some solutions to cope. It's a keeper, and one I recommend highly.
And, with my cognitive losses, it remains fresh, every time I read it.
Seriously, it kept me from the brink of utter panic. Read it if you have or know someone with MS.

Hard
I`m having a hard time with this one. I have so far found it to be pretty depressing. And thats the last thing I need at this point in my life. So I have put this one aside for now.

You're Not Crazy
There have been times that I started to feel like I was losing my mind.Not remembering simple things, not finding that right word that is on the tip of my tongue and not recognizing people that I have already met and should know.

Jeff writes the book from a personal perspective that helps to let me know that I am not alone and I am not crazy.I may be losing some of the connections that help me remember things, but the lesions that come with MS sometimes can affect those connections.

I liked how he put perspectives at the end of each chapter. It helped to summarize what I read and makes it an easier reference to go back to later.

I also purchased his other book, Mental Sharpening Stones.It is also done in a nice format summarizing each chapter.In this book, he brings perspectives and real life stories from others with MS, a neurologist and it shares what techniques they have used to help deal with their cognitive issues. ... Read more

Product Description
A Funny, sweet and moving account of a single parent with MS. Her life, her loves, her family and how she lives with her disease. It’s an emotional journey to her acceptance of herself as a woman with MS. ... Read more

Product Description
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a terrifying diagnosis for anyone to face. But, as with many other potentially devastating problems, MS can be best controlled and best lived with when sufferers balance prudent lifestyle changes with effective treatment—and these sorts of choices require sound and current information. This workbook, written by a team of doctors and psychologists from the renowned Western MS Center at the University of Washington School of Medicine, is the first available for people with MS. It covers a wide variety of problems, everything from symptom management to sexual function to career opportunities to spirituality.

"The MS Workbook is the most in-depth guide to living well with MS that I have seen yet. The pages are filled with practical, reader-friendly information on everything from cognitive challenges and fatigue, to relapse triggers and unconventional therapies. But it is the checklists, worksheets, and quizzes that will actively engage readers and empower them to fully incorporate these life-changing strategies." - Editor, MSFocus, national magazine of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Don't buy this - no real evidence
The MS Recovery Diet

Don't buy this book. If you get swayed (like I did) by the other reviews and the preview then check it out at your local LIBRARY so you don't waste your money and can return it. Spend your money on a sandwich and coffee instead. More satisfying and actually serves a purpose instead of lining this creative writer's wallet. The sad reality is that all of us who deal with MS know that we can't really pin down the etiology of a remission or attack of symptoms. Any of us can claim the reason is whatever we want. When you read through this book you will find that the author has no real evidence, just her theories. The recipes are inedible, by the way.

Handy Dandy and good for scribbling
Handy, simplistic, good as a starter planner book. There are better books out there. "Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies", etc.. I'll be passing this one on to the public library.

The MS Workbook: Living Fully With Multiple Sclerosis
The MS Workbook: Living Fully With Multiple Sclerosis
This book is wonderful.It helps me to focus on what is important and to rethink the ways I have been doing things.It is a great handbook for those with those who have been recently diagnosed and with those who have been struggling with everyday life.

Great resource but for the later stages?
This book has a lot of useful and supportive information. Very well done.However, if you are newly diagnosed with limited symptoms or a "benign" case you may want to hold off purchasing the book (or purchase and store for a later time) since much of the material seems more relevant to those with advanced cases.For example, all of the talk about wheelchairs, major cognitive dysfunction, applying for disability etc. can be scary and overwhelming for those struggling to come to terms with a recent diagnosis.

Very good guide for those with MS
I agree with the other reviewers here, this is an excellent guide for those with MS. The workbook is separated into 15 chapters that are filled with great information dealing with the disease. It is also fairly new (2006), so it reviews some of the newer medical information for MS.

I also like the worksheets that are spread throughout the book. Some deal with coping with the disease, questions to ask your neurologist, insurance issues as well as many more topics. These are a great addition and will help anyone who feels overwhelmed with their diagnosis.

I reccomend this book to anyone who has the disease and needs some help dealing with it. I actually wish they would give a copy of this when you are diagnosed. It is that good. ... Read more

Product Description
Rising UP! chronicles Anna York's physical, social andspiritual transformation as she makes a remarkable journey:

• From a white, Protestant, rural community tomulti-cultural Chicago
• From serious disability caused by multiple sclerosis tohealth and wholeness 
• From suspicion of eastern healing arts as"strange" and "dangerous" to healing with the help of a TaiChi master and Traditional Chinese Medicine
• From anti-feminist roots to ordination as a handicappedfemale in a Southern Baptist church
• From being regarded as a "saint" to beingrejected by friends because of her "un-Christian" mode of healing
• From beef and potatoes to a vegetarian diet
• From being uninsurable for over two decades to beingapproved for a $100,000 life insurance policy
• From confusion about what has happened to insight andjoy

Customer Reviews (1)

Tai Chi and Anna York: A Positive Approach to Living with MS
As a student of Anna York, I was anxious to read her autobiography. I started reading Rising Up! and could not put it down. Anna York is a gifted scribe, as well as a totally honest autobiographer. I have had multiple sclerosis for thirty-nine years, and know first-hand what it is like to live with this disease. Through the practice of Tai Chi, I have found it easier to maintain a positive attitude about the course of my disability, and my power to use exercise and meditation to improve my agility. The story of Anna's deep faith, as well as her relentless search for relief from her physical and psychological anguish,will provide inspiration to all who read it, as it has for me.

Flora M., Chicago ... Read more

Product Description
A selection of recipes and special menus designed to help those suffering from multiple sclerosis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Disappointing cookbook - no pics of meals
The connection between MS and Diet is HUGE and should not be ignored. Unfortunately, this cookbook doesn't stick to the recommended diets for MS and has black and white drawn pictures of meals.
I am a colour-photo kind of cook and so, from the outset, I was disappointed and felt slightly 'lost'.
This book contains a few good recipes, but it's not the first book I'd recommend to the newly diagnosed, or the long term diagnosed MSer when they're looking to change their diet in order to regain some health. One of the best places to go to get dietary advice which WILL make a difference is the MSRC ([...]). There you'll find recommendations on how to and why change your diet.

Baked Herrings anyone?
The Introduction and Nutrional information are beneficial to those newly-diagnosed and family members who may be confused about diet and MS. Geraldine and Fenella give well rounded menus with different and exciting options.Some of these options are completely out of the ordinary for North American taste.My family would have nothing to do with the Kidney Savoury or Mackerel Kebabs. However, many of the recipes are tasty and easy to prepare. ... Read more