Multiple Sclerosis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that leads to inflammation and damage to parts of your central nervous system (CNS). The CNS includes your brain, spinal cord, and nerves. In MS, your immune system attacks and destroys the coating (myelin) that covers your nerves. This may cause problems with how you feel, move, and see. The cause of MS is not known, but it may be an autoimmune disease.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Treatments for MS may cause unpleasant side effects. Ask your caregiver for information about the side effects of the medicines you take. If MS is not treated, you may have trouble moving or walking. This may lead to paralysis, pressure sores, or infections. You may also become blind. Your health, quality of life, and ability to function may decline.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Blood tests:

You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.

Your caregiver may order a liver function test to know how well your liver is working. This is also used to check that your medicines are not hurting your liver.

Foley catheter:

This is a tube caregivers put into your bladder to drain your urine into a bag. Keep the bag below your waist. This will help prevent infection and other problems caused by urine flowing back into your bladder. Do not pull on the catheter, because this may cause pain and bleeding, and the catheter could come out. Keep the catheter tubing free of kinks so your urine will flow into the bag. Caregivers will remove the catheter as soon as possible, to help prevent infection.

Medicines:

You may be given the following medicines:

• Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and prevent vomiting.
  
  
• Muscle relaxers: This medicine helps relax your muscles. It is also given to decrease pain and muscle spasms.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Steroids: This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation.

Tests:

You may need one or more of the following tests:

• Evoked potential tests: This is also called EVT. This measures how quickly and correctly your brain responds to certain stimulation such as sight, sound, or touch.
  
  
• Lumbar puncture: This is also called LP or spinal tap. During an LP, a needle is inserted into your lower spine. A small amount of fluid is then taken from your spinal canal. The fluid is sent to the lab for testing. Sometimes the fluid is taken to decrease pressure caused by certain medical problems. Pressure within the spinal canal can also be measured during an LP.
  
  
• MRI: This scan uses powerful magnets and a computer to take pictures of your brain. It will also take pictures of the blood vessels and structures in your head. You may be given dye, also called contrast, before the test. Tell caregivers if you are allergic to dye, iodine, or seafood. Remove all jewelry, and tell caregivers if you have any metal in or on your body. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell caregivers if you cannot lie still or are anxious or afraid of closed spaces.
  
  
• Neurologic exam: This is also called neuro signs, neuro checks, or neuro status. A neurologic exam can show caregivers how well your brain works after an injury or illness. Caregivers will check how your pupils (black dots in the center of each eye) react to light. They may check your memory and how easily you wake up. Your hand grasp and balance may also be tested.

Treatment options:

You may be offered one or more of the following treatments:

• Chemotherapy: This medicine is used to treat cancer but may also be used to treat MS. It acts by shutting down the immune system for a short time to change the course of MS. You may need blood tests often. These blood tests show how your body is doing and how much chemotherapy is needed. Chemotherapy can have many side effects. Caregivers will watch you closely and will work with you to decrease side effects.
  
  
• Immunotherapy: This medicine prevents the immune system from attacking your body. This medicine may increase the time between the episodes of symptoms or relapses.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Multiple Sclerosis (Inpatient Care)