When you arrive at a diagnosis for MS, it doesn't begin and end with one person. For my particular case, I saw my excellent primary care physician and nurse, multiple radiologists, an ophthalmologist, multiple phlebotomists, a neurologist specializing in MS, an orthopedist, a fluoroscopist and an electroneurodiagnostic technologist.Obviously, MS is a whole-body kind of condition, and it requires lots of diagnostic procedures from lots of specialists just to arrive at a conclusive differential diagnosis.
To manage and treat MS require much the same kind of team.
My current team consists of my excellent primary care physician and nurse, my MS neurologist, my orthopedist and the phlebotomists, lab techs and radiologists who will conduct my regular MRIs and bloodwork to identify any progression of my disease, my chiropractor and my massage therapist.
There are others who I am thinking about adding to my team, including an occupational therapist to help me with organizational skills so I can keep on task with the busy-ness of my life as a working mom, a speech pathologist for all those times I trip over my words or only hear them in my head but not coming out of my mouth, and a neuropsychologist, to measure my cognitive function/dysfunction baseline, as this seems to be where my worst symptoms reside. Though I hope never to have to claim disability, this baseline diagnostic test is one of the things a claim would require, should I find it necessary to stop working due to cognitive dysfunction. (Ugh. I don't even want to think about it. But the planner in me says, yep, better do it now. It's the only objective way to measure cognitive downturns.)
There are still other kinds of specialists that could be very handy to one's MS team depending upon the kinds of symptoms they experience, such as the following:
Naturopath: A naturopath is a licensed health-care practitioner who borrows from both traditional healing methods, holistic medicine and modern medicine to treat patients. Their focus is on helping the body to help itself. They treat all medical conditions, can perform minor surgeries and can prescribe pharmaceuticals, though naturopaths generally focus on natural healing agents. For those who wish to proceed on a more natural path, a naturopath is a great idea.
Nurse Practitioner: If you have to manage regular injections, skilled nurse practitioners can really be your best ally. They can teach you how to give yourself injections, explain the whys and wherefores of the process and give you tips for alleviating discomfort and finding ways to care for the parts of your body where you routinely have injection sites. Some of the best medical professionals out there are nurse practitioners as they can be some of the best healthcare cheerleaders around.
Nutritionist: It's never a bad idea to look at diet as a means for improving quality of life. Eating better and avoiding foods that trigger problems in your body can lend themselves to increased energy, less depression and lighter or fewer exacerbations. Good nutrition itself does not cure or treat MS, but it can certainly make you feel better!
Physiatrist: This doctor specializes in nerve, bone and muscle disorders and rehabilitation and treats a wide range of problems that relate to major body systems.
Physical Therapist: This allied medical specialist helps to treat pain and to help patients to restore or improve mobility as well as to prevent eventual disability. A PT is probably better than the physical trainer at the gym because they are more likely to appreciate, respond to and customize their treatments with sensitivity to your disease condition. The concept of "powering through" MS might be lost on gym trainers who may not have training for special populations.
Psychologist: No question about it, MS can cause lots of psychological issues, including depression that is both a result of dealing with the condition and as an affective disorder all its own. When one's brain and body chemistry gets messed up, anxiety and depression are likely outcomes. A psychologist can also help an MSer work with family and loved ones to develop a healthy support system.
Researcher: If you work with an MS neurologist who has ties to clinical research studies, you may find yourself buddying up with a research team of lab technologists who work hard on the behalf of all MSers to find a cure. I have a friend who does this for a living and she's marvelous!
Social Worker: This could be an MSers number one advocate when they struggle to maintain working life and have a difficult time finding support among family and friends. These challenges happen more often than you think. A social worker can help find most any service an MSer needs to live as full and active a life as they are able.
I'm sure there are even more specialists out there who can help make up an MSer's support team. If you or a loved one has encountered a new diagnosis recently, it's worth looking into these helpers to maximize their expertise in ways that could really help you feel better and head off disease progression before it gets too serious.
Here's a great discussion about building your healthcare team at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website.
