This week marks MS Awareness Week. In celebration of the theme this year (i.e., “MS=”), we are happy to tell the world about what MS equals to us.
At PatientsLikeMe, MS= over 22,000 patients sharing their MS journeys with each other and over 90 MS Mentors answering questions about everything from managing symptoms to choosing a doctor.
What can you learn about MS at PatientsLikeMe?
At PatientsLikeMe, MS patients can report their current and past treatments, including prescription drugs, supplements, over-the-counter medications, lifestyle modifications, procedures and more. They can also report their symptoms and side effects.
Here’s a glimpse of what our 22,000+ MS patients have reported:
- The most widely used prescription drugs are Copaxone, Avonex and Rebif.
- The top three supplements are Vitamin D, Omega 3 Fish Oil and Multivitamins.
- Among other types of physical exercise, yoga and stretching are very popular.
- Symptoms that are most reported include fatigue, pain and stiffness/spasticity.
What are our MS members talking about?
The current buzz among MS patients concerns an experimental vascular procedure called CCSVI and a new FDA-approved oral medication called Gilenya. Who’s tried them? And have they benefited? Our MSers are hashing it all out in our forums.
Another topic is feeling scattered when seeing one’s neurologist and other physicians. Fortunately, our members are helping one another bring information to their doctors in an organized and informative way. (See our Doctor Visit Sheet for guidance.)
How are our MS members making a difference?
For two years, our MS members have been teaming up with us through the PatientsLikeMeInMotion™ program to raise awareness about MS.
So far…
- PatientsLikeMe has sponsored over 60 run/walk teams made up of over 800 participants.
- PatientsLikeMe has sponsored member-led teams all across the United States and Canada.
- Through our sponsorship program, PatientsLikeMe has donated over $11,000 for MS research.
In sum, MS + PatientsLikeMe = shared experiences that can lead to better outcomes. Now that’s a nice equation.
