Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that can affect an individual’s ability to write, speak or walk, as a result of a disruption between the communication of the brain and other parts of the body.
At Hackensack Meridian Health, our goal is to treat all of your individual symptoms in order to improve your quality of life and neurological function. We believe you and your family are vital members of the care team, which is why we are committed to working closely with you on your individual course of treatment.
Our integrated team of neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neuro-urologists, neuro-radiologists, sleep specialists, pain specialists, geriatricians, dietitians, psychologists, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and support staff provide convenient, patient-centered care — including access to diagnostic testing, assistance with appointments and scheduling, and multiple consultations in one visit — so your experience is as seamless as possible.
Diagnosis
There is no one test that can diagnose multiple sclerosis. To diagnose MS, our team begins by reviewing your symptoms and health history. Additional tests may include blood work, a spinal tap, imaging studies, a motor function assessment and neuropsychological assessments. Our center addresses the care needs of people with MS and related disorders such as:
- Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
- Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
- Optic neuritis
- Transverse myelitis
Treatment Options
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease, which currently requires life-long treatment. Our team will recommend a personalized treatment plan based on your history, examination, MRI findings and other factors. MS medication options are utilized to manage symptoms, treat relapses, and reduce the number of attacks and/or slow the progression of the disease. These medication treatment options may include:
- Infused medications: Lemtrada, Novantrone, Ocrevus, Tysabri
- Injectable medications: Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone
- Oral medications: Aubagio, Gilenya, Tecifidera
Supportive Services
We recognize that multiple sclerosis affects multiple domains of one’s health, including mobility, vision, thinking, memory, pain, mood, bladder, bowel and sexual function. Our highly specialized team provides a wide variety of services and treatments for multiple sclerosis and is committed to seamless, state-of-the-art care for MS, including:
| Bladder, Bowel and Sexual Dysfunction Management | Botox Injections and Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy Pump |
| Cognitive Rehabilitation | Headache Management |
| Infusion Therapy | Neuropsychological Assessments |
| Pain management | Physical and Occupational Therapy |
| Psychological Support | Specialty Sleep Services |
| Speech Therapy | Swallow Therapy |
| Vision Services |
Research and Clinical Trials for MS
The Neuroscience Institutes at Hackensack University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center conduct advanced clinical research in pursuit of advancing science and improving outcomes for patients with multiple sclerosis.
For more information on our current clinical trials, contact:
• MS Center at Hackensack University Medical Center at 551-996-8100.
• MS Center at Jersey Shore University Medical Center at 732-897-3620.
