Support for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that must be managed over the course of a lifetime. NYU Langone’s Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center offers specialized treatment, counseling, and education for people living with MS. Our team members can help you with medical treatment, symptom management, and mental health care.

The center offers a range of additional services to help people who have MS symptoms. These include management of stiffness and muscle spasms, treatment for bowel and bladder problems, and injection training. Our rehabilitation services include occupational and physical therapy intended to help patients live as independently and safely as possible.

Our nearby infusion center provides people who have MS with convenient access to infusion therapies, such as corticosteroids and Tysabri^®.

Outpatient Rehabilitation

Outpatient rehabilitation services at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation are designed to help people with MS manage their symptoms, so that they can focus on living their lives as regularly as possible. To achieve this goal, you and your therapists work together to improve your physical capabilities and functional skills.

In order to maximize your independence and safety in the community, the therapists and other experts at Rusk Rehabilitation may also offer input on possible modifications to your home, school, work, and recreational environments.

For example, they may suggest installing a wheelchair ramp or extra handrail on stairways to assist with climbing stairs. They may also recommend strategies to help conserve your energy throughout the day to better manage fatigue.

Other outpatient services for people with MS include psychological counseling, speech and language therapy, and vocational rehabilitation. In addition to one-on-one therapy, treatment in a group setting may also be available.

Support Groups

The Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center is deeply committed to making a change in the lives of people with MS through a variety of specialty groups and programs. The center offers a number of different support groups for people with MS as well as their families and caregivers.

Attending MS support groups on a regular basis is an effective way for you to explore potential new medication options, keep abreast of medical developments, and learn about the disease’s potential progression.

It’s important to become educated about the disease in order to proactively plan your medical care. Participating actively in your own medical management can enhance your long-term prognosis and quality of life.

Clinical Trials

People with MS may benefit by participating in clinical trials. During clinical trials, new medications, medical devices, or other treatments are evaluated in strict, scientifically controlled settings. These research studies are required for regulatory approval of new therapies.

The Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center has a very active research program dedicated to investigating new diagnostic procedures and medications that could prove to be helpful in treatment and, perhaps, eventually developing a cure. Our experts can help guide you through the enrollment process and determine if a clinical trial is a good option for you.

Health and Wellness Day

The center offers a heath and wellness day each year to support people with MS at all stages of the disease. This program focuses on themes related to the wellness of people living with MS, including relationships, parenting, employment, and life planning.

The program consists of a keynote lecture, discussion groups, and a luncheon. It also features therapeutic activities, such as massages and manicures, and therapeutic classes, such as yoga and meditation.