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Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

Our Mission

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) provides a comprehensive approach to helping people with MS. We strive to motivate, educate, and empower people with MS to maintain their health and well-being.

The MSF offers a wide array of free services including national toll-free support, educational programs, homecare, support groups, assistive technology, publications, a comprehensive website, and more to improve the quality of life for those affected by MS.

Our resources assist people who have MS, their families and caregivers, regional support groups, and healthcare professionals. Access to our programs and services is available through our interactive web site or our national, toll-free helpline staffed by caring caseworkers and peer counselors. Our priority is to serve with empathy, resourcefulness and responsibility.

All MSF services, as well as information, literature and subscriptions to our publications are provided free of charge.



Activity

  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What is glosso-pharyngeal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    Neuralgias, or nerve pains, are among the more common of the rare multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. One type of nerve pain is called glosso-pharyngeal neuralgia. Resulting from damage to a cranial nerve, it is experienced as a severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and/or tonsils. Episodes...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How is trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis (MS) treated?
    Pharmacologic treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN; also called tic douloureux), a multiple sclerosis (MS) symptom which causes severe shock-like or burning facial pain, includes oral medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and baclofen...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What are the side effects of fampridine SR for multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    The following are common adverse effects associated with Fampridine SR:
    • Drowsiness, lightheadedness, and dizziness are very common; therefore, people should be careful driving a car or using dangerous machinery
    • Numbness and tingling in the face or hands
    • Stomach problems (nausea, vomiting, consti
    ...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Can dimethyl fumarate treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)?
    "Top-line" results have been reported from the first phase three trial to evaluate the investigational oral compound BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) as a monotherapy in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

    Results of the DEFINE study showed that 240 milligrams (mg) of BG-12, administered...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) does fampridine SR treat?
    Initially, Fampridine SR will only be approved to treat people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who suffer from gait disturbances. However, it is also being studied as a treatment for gait disturbances in people who have suffered a spinal cord injury as well as a treatment of fatigue and heat sensitivity...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How are the MS drugs fampridine SR and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) different?
    Fampridine SR, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis-related gait disturbances, contains the same active ingredient as 4-aminopyridine (or 4AP), a medication that MS patients have been purchasing from compounding pharmacies for many years. Fampridine SR differs from 4-aminopyridine in how it is...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Is MS in children and teens treated differently from MS in adults?
    Just like adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), children and adolescents are usually offered treatment with one of the disease-modifying therapies. Because current consensus supports initiation of treatment early in the disease course and these therapies can reduce the frequency and severity...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What type of multiple sclerosis (MS) most often affects children and teens?
    The majority of children and teens with multiple sclerosis (MS) begin with a relapsing-remitting course. Primary-progressive MS is extremely rare in the pediatric population. MS appears to progress more slowly in children than in adults. The reason for this is unknown but some believe that...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Why is it more difficult to diagnose MS in children than in adults?
    Diagnosing children with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be more challenging than with adults. Although MS symptoms are generally the same in children and adults, children are more likely to be very unwell at first presentation, with decreased level of consciousness, seizures, and fever. There...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How might having multiple sclerosis (MS) change my child's daily life?
    Kids with multiple sclerosis (MS) often miss school because of relapses, hospitalizations, and doctors' appointments. Ongoing symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and cognitive problems (memory and concentration difficulties) can affect not only school performance but also relationships...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How can I help my child with multiple sclerosis (MS) do well at school?
    Kids with multiple sclerosis (MS) often miss school because of relapses, hospitalizations, and doctors' appointments. Ongoing symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and cognitive problems (memory and concentration difficulties) can affect not only school performance but also relationships...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What is trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    Neuralgias, or nerve pains, are among the more common of the rare multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. One of these is trigeminal neuralgia (TN; also called tic douloureux), which causes severe shock-like or burning facial pain lasting a few seconds or up to a few minutes per episode. It is...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How common is multiple sclerosis (MS) in children and teens?
    About five percent of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) are diagnosed before 18 years of age and are considered to have pediatric, or childhood onset, MS. Although very rare, children as young as two years old have developed this disease. In the US, it is estimated that 8,000 to...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How can being in poor health affect my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis?
    Recent research sponsored by the Consortium of MS Centers, National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, showed being in poor health complicated getting an MS diagnosis. It found that people who had pre-existing health problems, such as mental illness or obesity, experienced...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How often should I get my blood pressure checked if I have MS?
    Your blood pressure should be checked at least every two years, though many health care workers will check at every office visit. High blood pressure can lead to health problems ranging from heart attack to kidney failure.  Full Post