00:00
Now, treatment goals for MS.
00:03
We've talked about
how we would identify,
how we would listen
to your symptoms,
how we would develop a therapeutic
relationship with the patient.
00:10
Now, we know that you have MS,
so now your job and my job is to help look
at the treatment goals for MS.
00:18
See, my role now as a nurse
to help you see
that you can live with this disease,
will help introduce you
to support groups
and other people that are doing well
with managing this disease
and leading full lives.
00:30
And I'm going to sit down with you
and talk about all these options
that you have for living your best life
with MS.
00:38
So, our goal is going to be
to modify the disease course.
00:41
We want to treat exacerbations
and that's a big word
that might you have like flare-ups
when they really start
to have more severe symptoms.
00:47
So, we're going to treat exacerbations.
00:49
We're gonna introduce them
to corticosteroids,
so the patient knows.
00:52
"Hey, when this happens
the healthcare provider will work with them
and will get a plan for what medications
you're going to take.
01:00
One of those options
would be corticosteroids.
01:02
Now, we're going to manage
your symptoms.
01:04
If you're having like spasticity
or those type of problems,
we have options like muscle relaxers."
We're also gonna help that patient
maintain emotional and mental health.
01:15
Now, what we have here
are four really important goals.
01:19
If I was sitting down with a patient,
who was newly diagnosed with MS,
that's exactly how I would talk to them.
01:27
I would sit down
and I would slow down
and I would help them understand.
01:33
And even though we can't cure MS,
we can sure help them live
a very full life.
01:40
So, first step, I'm gonna find out
what's most important to that patient.
01:44
What do they want to do?
What activities are important to them?
What people do they want to be around?
And then I'm gonna help them
come up with a plan,
then I'm gonna walk them
through these four areas
and say, "Look, we have lots of options.
01:57
We might not be able to cure it,
but we can help you modify the course.
02:01
When you do have an exacerbation,
we have some medications
that will help us control that.
02:06
Call us early.
02:07
We'll work with you
to find the best solution.
02:09
We're gonna help you manage
the symptoms that you have regularly.
02:12
And we want know
that we value your emotional
and your mental health
just as much as your physical.
02:19
And this is going to be tough.
02:21
So, don't hesitate to tell us
when you're feeling down,
when you're having a hard time,
when it's difficult to cope with.
02:27
We think that as important
as the physical symptoms
that you're experiencing."
See, the patient needs to know
that you're on their team,
that you're supporting them,
and you're gonna help them
through this process.
02:39
That's what nurses do.
02:42
Now, treatment,
we've already let them know,
"Hey, there's no cure
for multiple sclerosis,
but there is hope."
So, our treatment
is going to typically focus
on speedy recovery from attacks.
02:52
We want them to have
fewer attacks and shorter attacks.
02:56
We want to try to slow
that progression of the disease
and manage their symptoms.
03:01
So, some people have
a really mild symptoms
and they don't even need treatment.
03:05
Other people have horrifically
severe symptoms
and it can range all over the map
even for the same patient.