This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

oo

How frustrating for you. I reckon the medical profession trys its utmost to avoid giving the MS diagnosis just because it's such a hopeless disease for them.
I find it strange that the only option for remyelination and axonal regrowth is just stem cells. In my rather brief research on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other neurotrophic factors there is research showing that axons do indeed regrow and remyelinate. For example: http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/ab ... 18/14/5354
Interestingly antidepressants like imipramine and exercize increase levels of BDNF...I think there are plausible treatments to regrow axons and encourage remyelination right now. I'm not waiting 40 years for a stem cell treatment!

G,

I agree with you about stem cells and axons. At the recent presentation on stem cells:

Related to this topic, Professor Compston was asked if axons could be replaced. Axons are the parts of nerve cells, covered in myelin, that carry messages to other nerve cells and which are damaged and/or destroyed by MS. He reported that whilst stem cells can be turned into nerve cells, connecting them together is the difficulty.

The connection between nerve cells are the nerve fibres (axons). It is the axons which are de-myelinated and die, causing disability. I agree with you that nerve growth factors offer the best chance of reviving the axons. The recent small trial of testosterone showed that it increased nerve growth factors in the brain.

Ian

I agree that exercise is a must. As far as the bridge timber incident, Gary has not always used the best of common sense when it comes to his disease. Yes he is stubborn, but I believe that is what has brought him back numerous times from near complete paralysis. He has always done as much as he could do. For instance, when he was still on a walker, barely walking, he used a roto tiller to prepare our garden in the spring. He would till a few feet and then I sat a chair behind him in the garden to rest. Then he would get up and go again. Each day that he went back to till, he went a little farther. I have seen him when he was WC bound, pull himself up to a standing postion, stand ofr 10 seconds or less, sit, rest, and do it again. He would be tickled if he could make it 15 seconds or 20. It showed improvement to him. I have seen him go from bedridden to back to normal in a matter of months by doing this, which is therapy. I feel therapy is the best thing you can do for your MS whether you go to a therapist or you do it yourself. The DRs prescription of sit back and rest just doesn't cut it, in my opinion.

oo

Oh I could tell you some "whopper" stories about Gary. He is hard headed! Once when he could barely walk, I had to go to town to buy some groceries. I told him, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE, while I am gone. He promised. Our house is 4 ft off the ground with STEPS. I left and he went outside and FELL. the only thing he could use to pull up on was a rose bush! He did this trying to get back in before I spotted him outside. He told me later about it.