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Visiting the Doctor: What MS Patients Should Know

Summary & Participants

If you have MS, you know that you rely heavily on your doctor to keep you in good health. But treatment is your responsibility as well, and that means everything from picking the right neurologist, to asking the right questions when you go to your appointments. Join our panelists as they talk about what you can do to take a more active role in your treatment.

Medically Reviewed On: July 03, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Hi, and welcome to our webcast. I'm Dr. David Marks. If you have MS, you know you rely on your doctor to keep you healthy, but treatment is your responsibility, too. That means everything from choosing the right neurologist to asking the right questions when you go to see him. Today we'll be talking about what you can do to take a more active role in your treatment.

Joining me, on my left, is certainly an expert, Gina Gunkel. She's an MS patients right here in New York City. Thanks for being here.

GINA GUNKEL: Thank you.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: And from the physician side of it, we have Dr. Rick Munschauer. He's a neurologist at the University of New York at Buffalo. Thanks for being here.

FREDERICK MUNSCHAUER, MD: David, glad to be here.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Now, it's very important for a patient to be proactive in their treatment, isn't it?

FREDERICK MUNSCHAUER, MD: It certainly is, and that begins with trying to select a neurologist that you can talk to.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: How do you recommend a person does that?

FREDERICK MUNSCHAUER, MD: I think if you have multiple sclerosis, it's important to ask your physician who the outstanding thought leaders are in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in your area, and then go to see those physicians and see if they're the kind of person you want to establish a long-term relationship with, because the treatment of MS is a long-term commitment between the patient and the physician.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Now, what if one of the thought leaders isn't necessarily the most warm and fuzzy person, or you just don't click with him? What do you do?

FREDERICK MUNSCHAUER, MD: If you don't click with your neurologist, it's time to find a new neurologist. MS is too important of a disease to not be able to communicate effectively with, and there will be other experts in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in your area. Start with the MS society. Ask them who they feel are the prominent physicians taking care of people with MS. Then maybe ask a friend of yours who has multiple sclerosis if they have found a physician that they are comfortable with and who they feel is giving the state of the art therapy. The proper treatment early on in multiple sclerosis makes a big difference.

DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Gina, how did you find your neurologist?

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