Painting by MS patient, Helen Sontag

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a fairly common and generally progressive disease of the central nervous system.

MS can occur at any age, but the onset of MS typically occurs between the ages of 15 – 40 years.   Women are affected more often than men with approximately 3 women to every 2 men being diagnosed.

According to statistics from NHS direct, MS is the most common neurological disorder among young adults.  It affects about 1 person in 600 in the UK.

There are approximately 85,000 people diagnosed with MS in the UK.

MS is a condition that is episodic in nature as the symptoms may occur and be quite disabling but then may clear up completely. Some people have a slowly progressive condition without episodes of remission and other MS sufferers have static periods in the course of the disease.

At the onset, the MS sufferer will have a great variety of sensory and motor disturbances, many of which are fleeting. There are altered sensations of many kinds, spastic paralysis of upper motor neuron type with exaggerated tendon reflexes and extensor plantar responses. Intention tremor and staccato speech may occur and MS sufferers many have an unsteadiness of the eyes, difficulty with vision due to blurriness, loss of colour vision or weakness of the eye muscles.

From occupations studies, there is evidence to suggest that either a transmissible agent or sensitisation to animal products or contaminants as excess deaths were found among farm workers, butchers, meat cutters and leather workers. There were also significant excess deaths found in workers in the electrical industry and printing industry which expose users to heavy metals. This indicates that sensitisation is a more likely explanation in view of the previously recorded association of sensitisation to allergens by electrical equipment and chemicals. A trigger factor of a transmissible agent or a compounding factor of a transmissible agent is not incompatible with this conclusion. With the causes of MS patients’ sensitisation managed, sufferers may be freed from exacerbations and may be maintained in remission.

Sadly at this time there is no drug that can cure MS.

Information on Breakspear Hospital's work with MS patients

At Breakspear Hospital, we do not require MS patients to meet certain criteria in set clinical guidelines in order to get started on a treatment programme.  If you have concerns about your wellbeing, we can recommend various investigations depending on your symptoms and discuss and help implement possible treatment programmes which will be tailor-made to help you.

At Breakspear Hospital, we offer treatments for patients with MS which can manage and treat the symptoms. Each patient's treatment will depend on their specific symptoms.

Administration of Copolymer 1 (Copaxone) has been shown to rebalance the immune response in MS by encouraging the body to react differently immunologically. Permeability of the blood brain barrier is an important factor to consider. Stimuli to re-insulate the nerves include growth factors, such as platelet derived growth factor, triiodothyronine (T3) and vitamin B12. Thiamine also plays a role in myelination, which is the covering of the nerve. Deficiencies of other nutrients, such as copper, also cause demyelination, which is loss of nerve sheath can also be addressed.

We can investigate various nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity and heat stress and supply the nutritional supplements required which may included antioxidants, multivitamins and essential fats. By boosting the body's immune system and addressing allergies/sensitivities, we have helped many MS patients.  Also, diet recommendations and supplements have helped manage MS symptoms.

For a price list, see Patient Information.

If you have any specific questions regarding prices, estimates and treatment programmes, please contact either one of our Patient Liaison Officers, Carly Day or Emma Roberts, by phone 01442 261 333 ext. 310, or email: cday@breakspearmedical.com or eroberts@breakspearmedical.com.