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Over the past decade, researchers have made considerable progress in developing treatments for multiple sclerosis. Your care team at the Brigham Multiple Sclerosis Center will discuss common and new therapies for multiple sclerosis and recommend what’s best for your condition and lifestyle.

Common Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Options

To determine what MS therapy option is best for you, your physician will assess factors such as the type and severity of your condition and specific MS symptoms.

Disease-modifying treatments (DMTs)

Your physician may recommend disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis as a first-line treatment. These medications help reduce the frequency of relapses, address changes in the brain as detected by an MRI and slow the progression of the disease. Standard DMT therapies for multiple sclerosis include injectable drugs. These include beta interferon therapy, which alters your immune system’s response to infection, and glatiramer acetate, a synthetic protein that protects nerve fibers.

Another effective DMT is ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), an FDA-approved MS therapy for active relapsing or primary progressing multiple sclerosis.

Steroid therapies

These treatment options can help reduce inflammation in the central nervous system, alleviate symptoms, and shorten relapses. The primary methods used are:

• Methylprednisolone (solumedrol): This therapy treats acute relapses, reducing their severity and duration.
• Oral prednisone: Though not used as frequently as methylprednisolone, oral prednisone is an effective alternative that can reduce inflammation and alleviate mild to moderate MS exacerbations.
• Pulse steroid therapy: This approach involves administering high-dose corticosteroids intravenously over a short period to treat acute MS attacks.

Physical therapy

If you have multiple sclerosis, physical therapy plays a crucial role in managing the disease. Your physical therapy team will evaluate your strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination. After assessing your condition, they’ll create a physical therapy program based on your abilities. Areas of focus include techniques to improve your mobility, prevent falls, manage fatigue, and alleviate pain. Your therapists will also encourage you to take an active role in your physical therapy rehabilitation for multiple sclerosis.

Occupational therapy

Unlike physical therapy, which focuses on strength, coordination, and range of motion, occupational therapy for multiple sclerosis addresses functional and limitational challenges in your daily life. Occupational therapists provide training on the use of assistive devices. They also teach strategies for improving mobility, managing weakness and fatigue, and performing everyday tasks safely.

Speech therapy

Another essential treatment for multiple sclerosis is speech therapy. Although MS symptoms often present physical problems, you could experience speech and communication challenges. A speech-language pathologist can identify these issues and work with you to improve these functions. Common speech difficulties include:

• Dysarthria: Muscle weakness can cause slurred speech
• Dysphonia: Raspy or hoarse voice when speaking
• Aphasia: Impairs the ability to communicate with others

Infusion therapy

This treatment involves intravenous drugs distributed directly into your bloodstream that help modulate your immune system. Infusion therapy for multiple sclerosis can reduce relapses and increase remission time between flare-ups.

Emerging MS Therapies

MS researchers constantly look for ways to improve the effectiveness and safety of treatment options. Though further research is needed to validate the long-term effects of these therapies, continuous exploration is essential to bringing new and effective treatment options to MS patients.

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor

BTK is an enzyme that regulates specific immune cells, mainly B cells, to reduce inflammation in the central nervous system. Studies are primarily focused on treating relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

Stem cell therapy

Multiple sclerosis stem cell therapy is an emerging MS treatment option. This method involves replacing or repairing damaged cells in the central nervous system with healthy cells. The goal is to stop or reverse the progression of the disease.

Clinical trials have shown the stem cell therapy success rate to be promising. Studies indicate that five years after a stem cell procedure, 73% saw no progression, 81% were free from relapses, and 68% showed no worsening of their condition or relapses.

Myelin repair therapy

Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates the nerve fibers in your central nervous system. When the myelin gets damaged, it disrupts the electrical pulses in your nerves. This approach aims to restore the protective myelin. Researchers are exploring various strategies to regenerate damaged myelin.

Red light therapy

This non-invasive treatment uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate cell regeneration. Red light therapy for multiple sclerosis has promising benefits, such as reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair. However, research on this method is ongoing.

Alternative MS therapies

Besides traditional medical treatments and therapies for MS, other approaches may provide symptom relief and support your overall well-being. Alternative therapies for multiple sclerosis include:

• Massage: Although it can’t directly modify the disease, massage therapy for multiple sclerosis can alleviate muscle pain and tension, improve range of motion, and reduce stress.
• Acupuncture: Some people with MS find acupuncture can relieve certain symptoms like spasticity, numbness, bladder issues, and depression.
• Mind-body therapies: Practices such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation can promote relaxation while lowering stress, which enhances your overall mood.
• Exercise: Regular exercise can improve strength, flexibility, and balance while reducing fatigue and depression. Beneficial activities include swimming, stretching, cycling, and walking.

Schedule an Appointment

The Multiple Sclerosis Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital is internationally recognized for providing the most advanced treatment options for people with MS. Its expert care is strengthened by a leading clinical research program at the forefront of discovery.

You can schedule an appointment with our neurology team by calling 617-525-6550 or by submitting a request through our secure online form.