Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

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If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), getting the right treatments at the right time can greatly improve your quality of life.

Today there are many medications and other therapies that can help you live well with MS—and even more are in development. But it takes an experienced provider to know which ones are best suited to treat your type of MS and your unique symptoms.

University of Iowa Health Care is home to neurology providers with advanced training in MS care. We offer the care and support you need to stay active and optimize independence.

MS symptoms

With MS, your immune system attacks the insulation (myelin) that surrounds and protects the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This causes nerve damage in the brain and spinal cord that may cause symptoms throughout your body.

Multiple sclerosis symptoms vary from person to person, depending on what part of the brain or spinal cord is affected. Some of the most common signs include:

Balance problems
Bladder or bowel problems, such as urinary incontinence
Blurred or double vision
Cognitive problems (such as trouble thinking or remembering)

Fatigue
Muscle spasms or stiffness
Numbness or tingling, especially in the arms and legs
Muscle weakness

Types of MS

Symptoms of MS can change over time. They may come and go, then flare up when you least expect it. Or you might get your symptoms under control only to develop new ones.

However, we can often predict your pattern of symptoms based on the type of MS you have. UI Health Care treats all types of MS, including:

Relapsing-remitting MS: You have alternating periods of remission (your symptoms are stable) and relapse (your symptoms flare up).
Secondary progressive MS: Early on, you have periods of remission and relapse. But over time, your symptoms gradually worsen.
Primary progressive MS: Your symptoms slowly and steadily get worse, without any periods of remission.

We also see patients who just had a first-ever bout of MS-like symptoms that lasted at least 24 hours. This is known as clinically isolated syndrome.

Some people never have another attack, while others go on to develop MS. We’ll keep a close eye on you after that first attack, so we can treat you right away if needed.

MS diagnosis

Because there isn’t a single, definitive test for MS, it’s often misdiagnosed.

Several MS-like diseases—often referred to as “MS mimickers”—have some of the same symptoms as MS or cause changes that look similar on an MRI scan.

Our team uses several tests to confirm or rule out MS. You may have one or more of the following:

Blood test:

We can rule out certain conditions and infections that are detectable through a blood test.

MRI scan:

An imaging procedure that uses a magnetic field (instead of radiation) to take detailed pictures of your brain and spinal cord.

Spinal tap:

We take a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid from your spine to see if it contains proteins associated with MS.

MS treatment from UI Health Care

We offer many services to help you maintain your physical and mental health as your condition evolves. Some of these approaches include medications, rehabilitation, and lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise plans.

MS medications

Prescription drugs are considered the foundation of MS care. They come in several forms, including oral (by mouth), injectable, and IV infusion medications. These medications help you by:

Slowing the progression of your disease such as muscle spasms and urinary issues
Reducing the frequency and severity of your relapses

Chances are, you’ll take more than one medication—and your medications may change over time.

We know this can feel overwhelming, which is why our team includes specialty pharmacists with advanced knowledge of MS drugs. If you have questions about drug interactions or side effects—or need help keeping track of doses and schedules—we’re happy to provide one-on-one counseling.

Rehabilitation

Ongoing rehabilitation helps keep you functional at home or work and able to enjoy your favorite activities. Rehabilitation services available from UI Health Care include:

Physical therapy: Helps you increase strength and flexibility, reduce pain, and improve balance or mobility
Occupational therapy: Teaches you more effective or efficient ways to perform everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and cooking
Speech therapy: Helps you improve or overcome speech or swallowing problems caused by MS
Cognitive therapy: Helps you with MS-related cognitive problems such as trouble thinking, remembering, or concentrating

Complete, convenient care

Studies have shown that people with MS do better when they have access to a wide range of medical and support services. We offer:

Clinical trials: We can help you enroll in clinical trials to try promising new MS drugs before they’re widely available.
Infusion clinics: If you need IV infusions, you can choose the location that’s most convenient to you. We offer infusion treatments at three convenient UI Health Care locations: our main hospital campus in Iowa City and our Iowa River Landing and Quad Cities clinics.
Neuropsychology: Our neuropsychologists offer special tests to see if your condition has affected your cognitive (thinking) abilities. Your test results show whether you’d benefit from treatments like cognitive therapy or antidepressants.
Specialty care: Whether you have MS-related vision changes or bladder problems, our team can help. For example, your neurologist can refer you for treatment with one of our neuro-ophthalmologists, urologists, or pain management specialists.
Support services: Our social workers and other staff can connect you with resources here or in the community. They can help you obtain financial assistance or insurance authorization or refer you to a local MS support group.