Multiple sclerosis, seven ways of experiencing the disease in the Covid era- Corriere.it

by time news

People with multiple sclerosis (which in Italy are 126 thousand, mostly women) in this pandemic year have had to face a double challenge: that of leading a life as normal as possible and that of facing the risks of contagion, including reducing (88% of cancellations) of follow-up visits related to the disease. In this context, the Checkmate initiative was born. Bold stories of people with Multiple Sclerosis, created by Novartis Italia in collaboration with AISM – Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association and a team of clinical experts, in which seven patients tell how they first faced the diagnosis and then the disease during the Covid-19 emergency .

The video stories

On the Novartis Facebook page BrainzoneIt and on the website www.livinglikeyou.com/it/scacco-matto, the experiences of Stefano and his solo walking journey will be visible, the 100 days in motion towards the North Cape of Alessio, the professional success of Chiara – who took over the family business – and Marco – who with his tenor stamp was applauded in many theaters – as well as Anna’s desire for motherhood, Simone’s courage in participating in the Ironman and the desire di Valentina to help those like her who live with multiple sclerosis. All experiences that demonstrate how, with determination and with the right support, it is possible to score one’s winning move.
The chess metaphor well represents the game that a person must play from the moment of diagnosis, and the need to have a strategy as well as courage, determination and a relationship of trust with one’s doctor says Luigi Lavorgna Neurologist AOU Universit Luigi Vanvitelli, Chair of the Group of “Digital” Study of the Italian Society of Neurology. Thanks to all this, the pieces on the board (therapy, rehabilitation, support, work, hobbies, etc.) can move by predicting and blocking the opponent’s moves, thus bringing the player closer to victory.
This already formidable opponent in the last year has also been joined by the health emergency from Covid-19 which has worsened situations of strong social isolation, anxiety and depression, both for people with MS and for their caregivers.

The therapies

In recent years, in parallel with the increase in knowledge on the biological mechanisms underlying the disease, new treatment options have been identified, some already available, others on the way, says Claudio Gasperini, coordinator of the Multiple Sclerosis Study Group of the Italian Society of Neurology. This allows us on the one hand to diagnose the disease earlier and monitor its progress, on the other hand to identify the best solution for each patient, calibrating, almost personalizing, the therapeutic path in the light of the specific clinical picture. In 2020, due to the pandemic, there was a general postponement of non-postponable health services. As the stories of our protagonists demonstrate, MS is an unpredictable and complex pathology that affects both the physical and emotional well-being of the person, says Marinella Clerico, head of SSD Specialized Neurological Pathologies, AOU San Luigi Gonzaga and professor of the UniTo Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences. The therapeutic approach must therefore be multidisciplinary and include both pharmacological treatments and a personalized rehabilitation path thanks to the involvement of different health professionals (physiatrist, neurologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, nurse, psychologist, social worker, urologist, sexologist, neuropsychologist, ophthalmologist).
Today we still cannot completely beat the disease but, thanks to the treatments, research and help that can come from their family and social unit, people with MS may be able to maintain or regain a good quality of life with a short distant from those not affected by this pathology comments Francesco Vacca, National President of AISM, Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association. With Checkmate we want to celebrate the victories achieved by people with MS who can be an example for many others. The Covid-19 emergency overlaps with the multiple sclerosis emergency. Today we hope that, just as the discovery of vaccines is helping us to emerge from the pandemic, in the same way scientific research on multiple sclerosis will take further steps, concludes Gioacchino Tedeschi President of SIN – Italian Society of Neurology Information on multiple sclerosis.

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