Your treatment plan is likely to evolve after you’re diagnosed with SPMS.
Treatment may look a bit different if you have inactive or nonrelapsing SPMS, which has historically been harder to treat. “Until recently, no DMTs have provided significant delay in disability in those dealing with inactive SPMS,” says John R. Corboy, MD, a board-certified neurologist and professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado.
“This is the first study to show significant slowing of progressive disability in inactive SPMS,” says Dr. Corboy. Dr. Sanders heralds the medication as “a shift in the treatment paradigm, from mainly symptomatic care to disease modification, [which finally] fills the longstanding treatment gap in nonactive SPMS.”
And more treatments like it for nonrelapsing SPMS may be coming down the pike.
Along with medication, your treatment plan for SPMS may include:
- Physical therapy to help improve your strength and balance
- Occupational therapy to learn efficient methods of doing daily tasks (e.g., cleaning, cooking, and laundry) and personal care (e.g., bathing and dressing)
- Mobility aids, such as a walker or wheelchair, to help you move about safely
- Support groups or talk therapy to help you work through the emotions of an SPMS diagnosis and connect with others who understand what you’re going through
As you navigate SPMS and its changing treatment landscape, be sure to advocate for your care. This may include bringing a list of questions or concerns to each checkup, taking notes at your appointments, or bringing a friend or family member along for support.
