One of the lesser known aspects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is that no two people suffer from exactly the same symptoms.
While there are some common symptoms, such as pain and chronic fatigue, that many MS patients share, there are many symptoms, including weakness and numbness in the hands and legs, bowel and bladder problems, and vision and memory problems, that may significantly affect one person while having virtually no impact on others. It is this random and very personal aspect of MS that makes it challenging to treat and manage.
That’s why Methodist Hospitals developed its state-of-the-art Multiple Sclerosis Program at Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus.
It is led by Northwest Indiana’s only fellowship-trained MS specialist, Dr. William Conte, a board-certified neurologist. Under Dr. Conte’s expert guidance, the MS Program delivers university-level care in Northwest Indiana. As a result, area residents with MS don’t have to travel to benefit from the most advanced MS care.
“Patients in the MS program at Methodist Hospitals basically get the same care they would receive at any university,” said Dr. Conte, who received his MS fellowship training at the University of Chicago.
Because every patient with MS has varying needs and can have unique symptoms, Dr. Conte employs a personalized approach with comprehensive, multidisciplinary patient care. Treatments are designed to not just help patients manage their individual symptoms – they are designed to help them to flourish.
The program’s treatment team includes highly trained MS-certified nurses, nurse practitioners and dedicated support staff. In addition to state-of-the-art treatments, the center offers clinical trials, physical therapy, an on-site infusion center and an MS support group.
National Recognition
Methodist’s Multiple Sclerosis Program is committed to delivering exceptional, coordinated MS care. That commitment has earned the coveted Center for Comprehensive MS Care designation from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Partners in MS Care program.
The Partners in MS Care program also recognizes providers, including Methodist Hospitals, that support the Society’s initiative of affordable access to high quality care for everyone living with MS.
New Treatments Arriving
It’s an exciting time in the treatment of MS. Many significant developments have taken place over the last several years, and new treatments are on the horizon.
“There are going to be a lot of revolutionary medications and therapies coming in the years ahead,” Dr. Conte said. “It’s not a scary disease anymore, it really isn’t.”
Billie Childress is a multiple sclerosis nurse at Methodist who has spent over 25 years in the field. She observed, “When I first started, it was a horrible disease because we didn’t have any medications. It’s very nice to see these advances happening.”
Dry Needling Therapy for MS Patients
Dry needling therapy has been shown to provide relief for multiple sclerosis-related issues, such as spasticity, numbness, tingling and bladder control.
Used in conjunction with other interventions during a physical or occupational therapy session, dry needling therapy, also known as trigger point dry needling and intramuscular manual therapy, involves inserting a needle without medication through the skin into multiple areas of the muscle.
Dry needling helps release or deactivate trigger points to relieve pain or improve range of motion. Research indicates that it may improve pain control, reduce muscle tension, and normalize dysfunction of the motor end plates – where nerve impulses are transmitted to the muscles.
In addition to MS, dry needling is used for a variety of diagnoses, including back and neck pain, migraines, history of stroke, spasticity disorders from neurological impairments, and other disorders causing pain or lack of movement.
Starting in the Spring of 2020, Methodist Hospitals will offer dry needling therapy at two convenient locations:
• Methodist Hospitals Outpatient Rehabilitation • Southlake Campus- Pavilion D • 303 E. 89th Ave., Merrillville | 219-738-3500
• Methodist Hospitals Outpatient Rehabilitation • Midlake Campus • 2269 W. 25th Ave., Gary | 219-944-4160