Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that attacks the nervous system causing an array of difficulties for those who suffer from it. From balance issues to vision problems, from incontinence to cognitive difficulties, the disease can take several different paths for the millions who suffer from it all across the world. Progression of it can take longer for some but even then signs and symptoms themselves can also be different for many and this is one of those aspects of this disease that cause an incredible amount of confusion.

What is the most scary, is reading this sentence about the therapies that are suppose to slow the progression of the disease: They don’t know why [it] works, but….” With therapies like Copaxone and Tecfidera, there are many instances of those words spilling out into articles and after research, it is found to be true. They don’t know why they work.

After all these years and the millions of dollars that has been spent on studying this disease, scientists have found themselves being able to only pick a part of the disease, taking the gestalt of it (the whole) and micromanaging the various different areas. For instance, some work on the symptoms and how to help control them i.e. balancing issues and Ampyra or spasticity and baclofen and some work on trying to control the disease itself.

Those include shot therapies like Rebif or pill therapies like Tecfidera. This is where the scary part comes into play because even though studies have proven they do work for the vast majority of MS patients, the researchers don’t know why.

They think it is because it will inhibit the immune cells or it could also possibly be because they also have anti-oxidants to protect the brain and the spinal cord but they don’t know exactly why these incredibly powerful and exceedingly expensive medications work.