Alex Steinbock, DO, discusses the signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis, as well as who is most at risk and what treatment options are available. He also shares what daily life is like for people living with MS.
In the interview, Dr. Steinbock answers the following:
1) What is multiple sclerosis and what causes it?
2) What are the signs and symptoms?
3) Who is most at risk for MS?
4) Is there a cure? If not, what is the treatment?
5) Can people live normal, full lives with MS?
Selected Podcast
Living with Multiple Sclerosis
Featuring:
Learn more about Alex Steinbock, DO
Alex Steinbock, DO
Alex Steinbock, DO is a neurologist in Mount Clemens, Michigan and is affiliated with McLaren Macomb.Learn more about Alex Steinbock, DO
Transcription:
Prakash Chandran (Host): Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis can be a personally frightening experience. But living with MS doesn’t need to prevent you from having a fulfilling life. We are going to talk about it today with Dr. Alex Steinbock, a Neurologist and McLaren Macomb. This is McLaren’s In Good Health. I’m Prakash Chandran. So, Dr. Steinbock, let’s start with the basics here. what exactly is multiple sclerosis.
Alex Steinbock, DO (Guest): Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease affecting the central nervous system which comprises your brain and spinal cord. And it causes a disruption in the flow of information within the brain itself and then between the brain and the body.
Host: Okay and what do we know about what causes multiple sclerosis?
Dr. Steinbock: We actually don’t know the exact cause at this time. Scientists believe that a combination of environmental factors and your own genes contribute to the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Host: What are the signs and symptoms that you might have MS and how is it diagnosed?
Dr. Steinbock: The signs and symptoms can be almost anything. The most common is fatigue. People and patients describe problems walking, numbness and tingling in their arms and legs, weakness is actually the most common, so trouble moving an arm or a leg, vision problems is also oftentimes the very first symptom. And diagnosis is made with a physical examination and then usually MRI testing is done where you go into a machine that takes a very detailed picture of your brain and spinal cord.
Host: All right and is there a demographic or are there people that are more at risk than others for MS?
Dr. Steinbock: Studies show that women are two to three times more likely than men to develop multiple sclerosis, but it does affect all ethnic groups, Caucasians of Northern European descent are of the highest risk worldwide.
Host: Okay and as far as I understand, there is no cure that’s available for MS, so maybe talk a little bit about that and what potential treatments are available.
Dr. Steinbock: That is correct. We do not have a cure as of yet. Treatments are both for symptoms and to try and correct the abnormalities of our immune system that is part of the disease process. What happens in multiple sclerosis is our immune system which is our internal protector against bacteria and viruses and other foreign things in our system accidentally gets turned on and attacks the covering of the brain cells and spinal cord cells which leads to inflammation and subsequent damage. So, the treatment is aimed to trying to stop that inflammation and tissue damage from occurring. We use tablets or pills. There are injections. There are some infusions from IV, all aimed toward this process.
Symptomatically, we use medications if you have numbness or if there is headaches or any other symptoms that are associated with it. We also use physical therapy for treatment and anything else that is needed from an overall health standpoint.
Host: So, with all of these treatments, I think then the question becomes are you able to live a normal fulfilling life with MS?
Dr. Steinbock: People are living long fuller lives particularly with earlier detection and earlier set to start treatment.
Host: So, talk a little bit about how often people need to be treated when they are living with multiple sclerosis. Some of the treatment options that you talked about is this an everyday thing? Is this something that is going to impede on their everyday lifestyle?
Dr. Steinbock: Each individual experiences this disease individually. So, some people don’t need any treatment at all. Some people have something that they need to take daily. There are treatment options that are three times a week, once a week, once a month, once a year. And everything in between. So, it’s just important to continue to follow up with your physicians and healthcare providers to determine what treatments are best for you. For my practice, again depending on each individual and their experience in the disease, I may see them once a month, I may see them every three or four months or six to twelve months at a time.
Host: So, for people listening to this, that might have multiple sclerosis; what recommendations might you have for them to maintain good health and a good lifestyle?
Dr. Steinbock: Stay both physically and mentally active. Eat a healthy diet. And see your doctors.
Host: And just in wrapping up here, what is something that you wish more people knew about multiple sclerosis?
Dr. Steinbock: Number one obviously, research is ongoing to find a cure. We’ve mentioned before that you can live a normal full life. Sometimes there are some symptoms that need to be managed but don’t be afraid to seek a doctor if you have symptoms that are unusual or concerning to you. Make sure that it gets checked out.
Host: Okay. That sounds great. Well thank you so much for your time today Dr. Steinbock. That’s Dr. Alex Steinbock, a Neurologist at McLaren Macomb. Thanks for checking out this episode of McLaren’s In Good Health. To learn more about Dr. Steinbock or submit a question visit www.mclaren.org/steinbock. If you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and be sure to check out the entire podcast library for topics of interest to you. Thanks and we’ll talk next time.
Prakash Chandran (Host): Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis can be a personally frightening experience. But living with MS doesn’t need to prevent you from having a fulfilling life. We are going to talk about it today with Dr. Alex Steinbock, a Neurologist and McLaren Macomb. This is McLaren’s In Good Health. I’m Prakash Chandran. So, Dr. Steinbock, let’s start with the basics here. what exactly is multiple sclerosis.
Alex Steinbock, DO (Guest): Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable disease affecting the central nervous system which comprises your brain and spinal cord. And it causes a disruption in the flow of information within the brain itself and then between the brain and the body.
Host: Okay and what do we know about what causes multiple sclerosis?
Dr. Steinbock: We actually don’t know the exact cause at this time. Scientists believe that a combination of environmental factors and your own genes contribute to the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Host: What are the signs and symptoms that you might have MS and how is it diagnosed?
Dr. Steinbock: The signs and symptoms can be almost anything. The most common is fatigue. People and patients describe problems walking, numbness and tingling in their arms and legs, weakness is actually the most common, so trouble moving an arm or a leg, vision problems is also oftentimes the very first symptom. And diagnosis is made with a physical examination and then usually MRI testing is done where you go into a machine that takes a very detailed picture of your brain and spinal cord.
Host: All right and is there a demographic or are there people that are more at risk than others for MS?
Dr. Steinbock: Studies show that women are two to three times more likely than men to develop multiple sclerosis, but it does affect all ethnic groups, Caucasians of Northern European descent are of the highest risk worldwide.
Host: Okay and as far as I understand, there is no cure that’s available for MS, so maybe talk a little bit about that and what potential treatments are available.
Dr. Steinbock: That is correct. We do not have a cure as of yet. Treatments are both for symptoms and to try and correct the abnormalities of our immune system that is part of the disease process. What happens in multiple sclerosis is our immune system which is our internal protector against bacteria and viruses and other foreign things in our system accidentally gets turned on and attacks the covering of the brain cells and spinal cord cells which leads to inflammation and subsequent damage. So, the treatment is aimed to trying to stop that inflammation and tissue damage from occurring. We use tablets or pills. There are injections. There are some infusions from IV, all aimed toward this process.
Symptomatically, we use medications if you have numbness or if there is headaches or any other symptoms that are associated with it. We also use physical therapy for treatment and anything else that is needed from an overall health standpoint.
Host: So, with all of these treatments, I think then the question becomes are you able to live a normal fulfilling life with MS?
Dr. Steinbock: People are living long fuller lives particularly with earlier detection and earlier set to start treatment.
Host: So, talk a little bit about how often people need to be treated when they are living with multiple sclerosis. Some of the treatment options that you talked about is this an everyday thing? Is this something that is going to impede on their everyday lifestyle?
Dr. Steinbock: Each individual experiences this disease individually. So, some people don’t need any treatment at all. Some people have something that they need to take daily. There are treatment options that are three times a week, once a week, once a month, once a year. And everything in between. So, it’s just important to continue to follow up with your physicians and healthcare providers to determine what treatments are best for you. For my practice, again depending on each individual and their experience in the disease, I may see them once a month, I may see them every three or four months or six to twelve months at a time.
Host: So, for people listening to this, that might have multiple sclerosis; what recommendations might you have for them to maintain good health and a good lifestyle?
Dr. Steinbock: Stay both physically and mentally active. Eat a healthy diet. And see your doctors.
Host: And just in wrapping up here, what is something that you wish more people knew about multiple sclerosis?
Dr. Steinbock: Number one obviously, research is ongoing to find a cure. We’ve mentioned before that you can live a normal full life. Sometimes there are some symptoms that need to be managed but don’t be afraid to seek a doctor if you have symptoms that are unusual or concerning to you. Make sure that it gets checked out.
Host: Okay. That sounds great. Well thank you so much for your time today Dr. Steinbock. That’s Dr. Alex Steinbock, a Neurologist at McLaren Macomb. Thanks for checking out this episode of McLaren’s In Good Health. To learn more about Dr. Steinbock or submit a question visit www.mclaren.org/steinbock. If you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and be sure to check out the entire podcast library for topics of interest to you. Thanks and we’ll talk next time.