Does stress management slow Multiple Sclerosis?

[MSUK]

When researcher David Mohr began working with people with multiple sclerosis about 20 years ago, patients would tell him that stress made their disease worse. At the time, most physicians didn't believe there was a connection, he said.

But a study published online July 11 in Neurology adds to growing evidence that suggests a link between stress and flare-ups of the neurological disease. The research shows that participating in weekly stress management therapy prevented the development of new brain lesions, indicators of the impact of the disease in the brain. But not long after the treatment stopped, new brain lesions appeared.

"It's clear that stress plays an important role in multiple sclerosis, and therapy may be a useful additional treatment, along with drug therapy," said Mohr, author of the study and professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... geid/2163/

[eric593]

It's important to note that the report concludes that there was no clinical benefit and the effect did not persist beyond the 24 week study period which could also indicate a placebo response.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22786596

In the same issue, a meta-analysis concludes:

"at present, the prospective data are insufficient to establish any such relationship [between psychological stress and MS] with reasonable medical certainty."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22786585

[Sparky10]

Which came first - the MS or the stress? This debate will wage forever.

[vesta]

"In November 2009 Dr. Paolo Zamboni and colleagues reported that all patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) had abnormalities in veins in their neck or back that could be diagnosed using ultrasound." From Appendix 1 Lay Summary October 2011 of the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) This finding corresponds neatly with my idea that in ” Multiple Sclerosis blood vessels deformed by childhood stress cannot accommodate the blood flow. The auto-immune response is secondary to the true cause of MS, a blood reflux which injures the brain and spinal cord. The origin of the reflux may be structural (CCSVI stenosis) as proposed by Professor Zamboni or it may be a "temporary" stress reaction to a toxic substance.
WHY? BECAUSE STRESS TENSES UP THE BACK, NECK AND SHOULDERS, thus restricting the blood flow from the brain and even causing a blood reflux or back flow which injures the brain. Since the conditions of the veins vary, the treatment should vary. If the veins are literally closed off, angioplasty or even jugular bypass surgery may be in order. If successful, that implies a CURE. In that case, until the vein can be opened to normal blood flow, the patient probably has to take the drugs which minimize brain damage from blood reflux. For those (probably like myself) where the veins narrow or compress with stress (which can include emotions, aspartame, toxic MS drugs, food intolerances, antibiotics etc) anything which promotes blood circulation (acupuncture, massage, swimmings etc) can CONTROL the disease.
OF COURSE IF YOU STOP STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES THE SYMPTOMS WILL RETURN! Diabetics have to take insulin, Myopics have to wear glasses. Some diseases can be cured, others controlled. But you can’t treat something unless you know what it is. See MS Cure Enigmas.net

[Sparky10]

Even if less stress makes us feel like the MS is slowed, isn't that half the battle? Aren't the majority of the meds we take only for symptom management?

For some of us, feeling better is all we hope for!

[gainsbourg]

I believe the reason that stress so often brings on an attack of MS is the herpes connection. What usually precedes an attack of herpes? Yes, you guessed it - stress. Herpes often remains dormant in the ganglia of nerve tissue. My theory is that the mere presence of the inactive herpes virus "scares" or stimulates the immune system into launching an attack on healthy tissue in the locality of the herpes virus.


gainsbourg