If you have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), it’s vital to find a neurologist you can work closely with to decide on treatment options. Whether your current treatment plan is effectively controlling your MS or you’re thinking about switching disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), you need to know which questions to ask your neurologist. Together, you can work to make informed choices about RRMS treatments.
This guide is designed to help you have a good conversation with your neurologist about your treatment goals and get the answers you need about your options.
When you see your healthcare provider, it’s a good idea to help them understand if your condition is changing and what types of medication you prefer. When you meet with your doctor, tell them if you’re experiencing new symptoms or if others are getting worse.
It may be helpful to bring another person to your appointments. Some people feel overwhelmed during their neurology visits, while others may have cognitive symptoms of MS that make it difficult to concentrate. A friend or family member can assist with asking questions and taking notes.
“When seeing my doctor, it helps to have my husband with me, as he remembers better than I do what the doctor tells me,” one MyMSTeam member wrote. “He will also ask pertinent questions that I don’t think about at the time. My memory is not good, and I forget very easily.”
Consider the following aspects of MS treatment, and note which matter most to you so you can discuss them with your healthcare professional.
Which of these statements feels more true to you?
Which of these statements feels more true to you?
Which of these statements feels more true to you?
Tell your doctor about any challenges you’ve faced in sticking to your current treatment plan. Do you experience any of the following issues?
Read the results of MyMSTeam research on how members feel about taking DMTs.
These 14 questions can help you figure out what information you need to make the best choices for your MS treatment. Look them over, and make a note of any you’d like to bring up with your doctor at your next appointment.
1. Is my current DMT effectively treating my MS? Can you explain how you determine this?
2. Can you recommend ways to overcome challenges I face in taking my treatment?
3. I experience side effects associated with my DMT. Can you recommend ways to prevent or manage them?
4. What strategies do you recommend for managing my MS symptoms?
5. Could I benefit from switching to a different DMT? Why or why not?
6. If you don’t think I should switch treatments now, should we set a time in the future to discuss it again?
7. Why do you think a new DMT may be more effective than my current treatment?
8. What are the potential benefits and risks of switching to this treatment?
9. Will I need a washout period to get my current treatment out of my system before beginning the new DMT? Is my risk of an MS flare higher during the washout period?
10. What is my personal risk of developing rare but serious side effects with this treatment?
11. How (and how often) will my risk of serious side effects be monitored while I’m taking this treatment?
12. What are the most common side effects of this treatment? How long are they likely to last? Is there anything I can do to avoid or manage them?
13. How long will it be before my new treatment begins taking effect?
14. Which treatments does my healthcare plan cover?
MS is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks myelin, the protective layer around nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The pattern of disease progression depends on the form of MS. Periodic flare-ups are the hallmark of the relapsing forms of MS:
No matter which type of MS you have, it’s important to remember that MS disease activity can progress even without flare-ups, new lesions, or noticeable symptoms. This is why it’s so important to form a decision-making partnership with your neurologist. Be sure to attend your regular follow-up visits, get MRI scans and blood tests as needed, and communicate openly about your symptoms of MS and your quality of life.
A good neurologist can also help you understand relapsing MS and give you information about how to know if you’re experiencing an MS relapse, how long a relapse might last, and what remission will look like.
On MyMSTeam, the social network for people with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with those who understand life with MS.
Do you have tips for discussing relapsing MS with a neurologist? What other questions should people with MS ask their doctor? Share in the comments below, or start a conversation with others on your Activities page.
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