Experts in the treatment of multiple sclerosis will provide insight into the complex neurological and autoimmune disease in a six-part lecture series at Norwood Hospital.
"This is an opportunity for us to give the public some new information on therapies and on symptom management, and updates of symptom therapy," said Dr. Salvatore Napoli, neurologist and medical director of the hospital's Multiple Sclerosis Center.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic illness that affects the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance and sensation. More than 400,000 Americans have MS, including as many as 1,300 Norfolk County residents, according to the New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The second annual Multiple Sclerosis School is a free program meeting monthly from next month until February, with each session lasting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m, in the Abraham-Sieracki Conference Room at Norwood Hospital. Registration is at 6:30 p.m.
"There is such a need for the question-and-answer section," said hospital communications director Mary Wallan, "especially for newly diagnosed patients and even because there are so many new developments in the field."
Last year more than 40 people attended each of five lectures.
"We targeted MS, where you can have multiple symptoms so you can have a lot to talk about, from fatigue, bladder symptoms, cognition and more," said Napoli.
The Caritas Multiple Sclerosis Center's goal is "to provide comprehensive care so that MS patients do not have to travel into the city for care," according to its Web site.
Norwood Hospital also offers physical therapy, memory testing and aggressive treatments for MS patients.
The center draws patients from as far as Plymouth, Cape Cod, the South Shore and Rhode Island, Napoli said.
Napoli and nurse Madeline Langley will kick off the series Sept. 9 with a lecture on changes in therapy and research.
"It's changing and there are different therapies that will be coming out relatively soon," said Napoli. "The medicines that are coming out are very specific and you have to know what exactly is going on."
On Oct. 14, Dr. Susan Rubin of the Women's Neurology Center at Illinois will speak about women's MS issues.
Dr. Allen C. Bowling, a neurologist, author and associate medical director of the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center in Colorado, will speak Nov. 12 about integrating conventional and unconventional MS therapies.
"Patients always ask about the alternative therapies," said Napoli.
Therapists Donna Bradley and Barbara Brierley will talk about physical therapy Dec. 9.
Dr. John Al-Jamal, an obstetrician and gynocologist at Norwood Hospital, will speak Jan. 13 about female bladder dysfunction in MS.
Dr. David Staskin, a urologist at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, will conclude the series on Feb. 10 with a talk about sexual dysfunction and male bladder dysfunction in MS.
Experts in the treatment of multiple sclerosis will provide insight into the complex neurological and autoimmune disease in a six-part lecture series at Norwood Hospital.
"This is an opportunity for us to give the public some new information on therapies and on symptom management, and updates of symptom therapy," said Dr. Salvatore Napoli, neurologist and medical director of the hospital's Multiple Sclerosis Center.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic illness that affects the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance and sensation. More than 400,000 Americans have MS, including as many as 1,300 Norfolk County residents, according to the New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The second annual Multiple Sclerosis School is a free program meeting monthly from next month until February, with each session lasting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m, in the Abraham-Sieracki Conference Room at Norwood Hospital. Registration is at 6:30 p.m.
"There is such a need for the question-and-answer section," said hospital communications director Mary Wallan, "especially for newly diagnosed patients and even because there are so many new developments in the field."
Last year more than 40 people attended each of five lectures.
"We targeted MS, where you can have multiple symptoms so you can have a lot to talk about, from fatigue, bladder symptoms, cognition and more," said Napoli.
The Caritas Multiple Sclerosis Center's goal is "to provide comprehensive care so that MS patients do not have to travel into the city for care," according to its Web site.
Norwood Hospital also offers physical therapy, memory testing and aggressive treatments for MS patients.
The center draws patients from as far as Plymouth, Cape Cod, the South Shore and Rhode Island, Napoli said.
Napoli and nurse Madeline Langley will kick off the series Sept. 9 with a lecture on changes in therapy and research.
"It's changing and there are different therapies that will be coming out relatively soon," said Napoli. "The medicines that are coming out are very specific and you have to know what exactly is going on."
On Oct. 14, Dr. Susan Rubin of the Women's Neurology Center at Illinois will speak about women's MS issues.
Dr. Allen C. Bowling, a neurologist, author and associate medical director of the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center in Colorado, will speak Nov. 12 about integrating conventional and unconventional MS therapies.
"Patients always ask about the alternative therapies," said Napoli.
Therapists Donna Bradley and Barbara Brierley will talk about physical therapy Dec. 9.
Dr. John Al-Jamal, an obstetrician and gynocologist at Norwood Hospital, will speak Jan. 13 about female bladder dysfunction in MS.
Dr. David Staskin, a urologist at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, will conclude the series on Feb. 10 with a talk about sexual dysfunction and male bladder dysfunction in MS.
