According to Harvard Health Publishing, an anti-inflammatory diet should include foods like tomatoes, leafy greens such as spinach and kale, and fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. There's some evidence that consuming these foods could be beneficial for MS.
Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation and expedite recovery from acute relapses. The most commonly used corticosteroids in MS include methylprednisolone, dexamethasone and prednisone.
People with multiple sclerosis can incorporate natural therapies into their health protocol in order to reduce inflammatory chemicals and reduce blood-brain-barrier disruption. Some of the most potent natural therapies to achieve these goals include resveratrol, vitamin D, fish oil, and a healthy diet.
Treatments for MS attacks
Corticosteroids, such as oral prednisone and intravenous methylprednisolone, are prescribed to reduce nerve inflammation.
Including anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation and improve brain function. Foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, like salmon and walnuts, have also been linked to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing MS.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Aleve (naproxen) and Advil (ibuprofen), can treat musculoskeletal pain and headaches common with MS. These medications can relieve pain and lower inflammation in the body, which can also help with the pain associated with MS.
Supplements that stimulate the immune system should be avoided in high doses. Those include selenium, zinc, B1, B2, folic acid, B6, vitamin A, biotin, magnesium, copper, and manganese. The effectiveness of these is not supported by studies in MS.
These pain sensations feel like burning, stabbing, sharp and squeezing sensations. In MS you can experience acute neuropathic pain and chronic neuropathic pain. Acute Neuropathic Pain is sometimes an initial symptom of MS or may be part of an MS relapse. Acute means it has a rapid onset and is of short duration.
Exercise, specifically both strength training and cardiovascular training, decreases systemic inflammation. Stress reduction and quality sleep are essential for reducing brain inflammation, as chronic stress and too little sleep can increase your inflammatory burden.
A cup of soothing green tea may help. A small study found that some of its compounds, including one called EGCG, may help ease these symptoms. People saw results after they drank green tea every day for at least 3 months.
For patients with MS and other autoimmune diseases, inflammation can diminish quality of life by degrading otherwise healthy parts of the body. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine are paving the way to better understanding how to treat MS and other neuroinflammatory diseases.
Tizanidine (Zanaflex)
A muscle relaxant can reduce stiffness and spasms and may be particularly useful to treat painful night-time spasms. Because its effects last for only 3-6 hours, it can be best used around specific times when relief from symptoms is most important, for example at bedtime.
You might take a pain reliever like acetaminophen or use a skin gel with a pain reliever like lidocaine. Your doctor could prescribe medications for seizures or depression. They affect how your central nervous system reacts to pain. You can also try warm compresses or pressure gloves.
In short, good hand-washing combined with exercise, fresh air, stress reduction, and a good night's sleep will go further in protecting you from illness than taking supplements that boost your immune system and, in so doing, also have the potential to trigger an MS flare-up.
Fish oil is one of the most popular supplements for reducing inflammation due to its high omega-3 fat content. Fish oil supplementation has an impressive record for improving brain health and functions of all kinds, such as mood, cognition, and mental well-being.
“Exactly how curcumin exerts its effects is not certain, but it may be due to its ability to reduce brain inflammation, which has been linked to both Alzheimer's disease and major depression,” said Dr.
Coffee may have anti-inflammatory effects in the body. These effects are thought to be a primary reason why research has linked regular coffee consumption with lower risks for many inflammatory-related conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, gout, heart disease and some cancers.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking. While some are easier to avoid than others, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and overall health and wellness can have outsized benefits for MS patients.
MS can damage the nerves that affect your muscles. This can cause acute or paroxysmal pain in the form of spasms. Your arms and legs might shoot out uncontrollably and might have pain like cramping or pulling. Nerve pain can also be chronic in the form of painful or unusual sensations on your skin.
Abstract. Inflammation in a myelinated portion of the nervous system is the mainstay of multiple sclerosis (MS). Elevation of inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin, ESR and hs-CRP is suspected to occur in MS patients.
One large study followed thousands of people over several decades to examine magnesium intake and the risk of developing MS over time. The study authors did not find any association between magnesium levels and MS risk.
Magnesium is often prescribed for nocturnal leg cramps or general muscle cramps, and some healthcare providers suggest it can be used to ease the muscle spasms of MS.