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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:
    How can pioglitazone help treat multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    A small double-blind clinical trial involving patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) has indicated that a drug used to treat diabetes shows protective effects in the brain.

    At the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine, trial participants were given...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Why is generalized anxiety disorder more common in women than in men?
    While the cause and the reason why generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) -- uncontrollable and extreme worry about hypothetical situations on a daily basis -- affects women more than men is still to be determined, some researchers suspect that it may be a result of both biological and envi...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What is a post void residual bladder ultrasound for MS-related problems?
    Your bladder function can be tested through ultrasounds before and after you urinate to see how much liquid is left after you use the bathroom or are catheterized. This is called a post void residual bladder ultrasound.  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Why is Sjorgren's syndrome often mistaken for multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    Sjorgren's Syndrome is one of the most common autoimmune diseases and has striking similarities to multiple sclerosis (MS). While men and women of all ages can be affected, Sjorgren's tends to appear in women in their late 40s.

    Sjogren's Syndrome can cause magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What factors help predict the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    Gender, cognitive state, and the amount of lesions on the brain appear to be important factors for predicting multiple sclerosis (MS) progression, according to a study conducted at the University of Florence in Italy. Additionally, cognitive testing of people with benign MS who appear to...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Why is depression more common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    Depression is definitely more common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in the general population. This is likely due to the biology of MS itself and its effect on the central nervous system, combined with psychosocial factors associated with MS.  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Will I feel pain during a lumbar puncture?
    A lumbar puncture (LP) -- also called a spinal tap -- is scary but not at all dangerous, and most times, not even uncomfortable. The area in the low back where the needle is inserted is anesthetized and most people report feeling only some pressure.  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How long does it take for secondary-progressive MS to develop?
    We looked at disease progression in patients in British Columbia and found that it took people on average almost 19 years to reach secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Or put another way, the relapsing-remitting phase of the disease lasted around 19 years. We found that people who were...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How does a lumbar puncture help diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    A lumbar puncture (LP) -- also called a spinal tap -- is a major diagnostic tool sometimes used to confirm a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This is a test to analyze the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This fluid, which acts like a cushion protecting the brain and spine from...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What can I expect during a lumbar puncture?
    Usually during a lumbar puncture (LP) -- also called a spinal tap -- the person will lay on their side with their knees pulled up towards their chest. Sometimes, the test is done with the person sitting up, but bent over. The healthcare provider will clean the back and inject a local anesthetic to...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How can I reduce my risk of a headache after a lumbar puncture?
    The biggest risks associated with lumbar puncture (LP) -- also called a spinal tap -- are a post-LP headache; bleeding, especially in those taking blood thinners; and infection. To help minimize the chances of the former developing, patients should remain supine as much as possible for the first 24...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    How common is high cholesterol in women?
    According to the National Women's Health Resource Center, more than 50 million American women have borderline-high to high cholesterol levels that may put them at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. It's important to have your cholesterol checked and to understand your cholesterol test r...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Can natalizumab for multiple sclerosis increase my risk of skin cancer?
    Physicians in Boston have reported two cases of melanoma (skin cancer) that developed in women who were administered Tysabri (natalizumab) to treat their multiple sclerosis (MS). John T. Mullen, MD and two colleagues at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston reported the cases in the New England...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    What type of multiple sclerosis (MS) does natalizumab treat?
    Tysabri (natalizumab) is a laboratory-produced monoclonal antibody that is approved for individuals with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to delay the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. It is designed to impede movement of potentially...  Full Post
  • Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered:
    Can the cancer drug rituximab treat multiple sclerosis (MS)?
    Two infusions of the cancer drug Rituxan (rituximab), given two weeks apart, slowed the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) for nearly one year, researchers reported. They also stated that the drug appears to be twice as effective as existing first-line treatments for MS. Findings were published...  Full Post