Multiple Sclerosis

Rating:
Summary: I think it was a good, balanced book on MS.
Review: I have read a few books about MS but this was the only one that seemed to give enough information in a way that I could understand it. It was neither too much in medical jargon nor so simplified that it made me feel stupid. I liked it, and thought it was informative and somewhat comforting.

Rating:
Summary: Positive attitude but needs updating
Review: I picked up 3 of the "recommended" books from Amazon.com at the same time and found this one to be the most positive in attitude. I am glad I read it first before jumping into the others. It offers a good overview.

It does need to be updated to include recent advances in treatment. Despite being written in in early 90's it bearly touches the wide-spread usage of the ABC treatments now available (Avonex, Betaserone, and Copaxone) among others. If someone could reach the authors and encourage an update!

I would still recommend it as a best place to start.

Rating:
Summary: Positive attitude but needs updating
Review: I picked up 3 of the "recommended" books from Amazon.com at the same time and found this one to be the most positive in attitude. I am glad I read it first before jumping into the others. It offers a good overview.

It does need to be updated to include recent advances in treatment. Despite being written in in early 90's it bearly touches the wide-spread usage of the ABC treatments now available (Avonex, Betaserone, and Copaxone) among others. If someone could reach the authors and encourage an update!

I would still recommend it as a best place to start.

Rating:
Summary: Solid and informative
Review: I was diagnosed with MS 6 years ago... by the author, Louis Rosner, M.D. at UCLA. I continued as his patient until he retired 3 1/2 years later. The
funny thing is, I had checked the earlier edition of this book out of the library while going through the diagnostic process with another neurologist and
was very impressed with its straightforward overview of the disease and its impact on the individual and their families. It lays out the facts and vagaries
of this chronic, life-changing disease without terrible gloom and doom, but also without a hint of condescention or fluff. He manages to tell you the
range of signs, symptoms, and the disability they may cause-from mild to severe-that can happen to a person with MS without unduly alarming
someone new to it. He also reviews case histories of a number of patients he had followed over the years, which I found very enlightening, as it shows
just how MS can affect people so differently.

I'd made my appointment at UCLA with one of their "MS specialists," and only later realized it was the author. I was lucky-I cannot imagine a
neurologist explaining MS to me (in person, as well as in the book) any better than Dr. Rosner. Because this edition of the book (1992) is the latest
available, and Dr. Rosner is now retired, I have no idea if there are any plans for an updated edition. I would love to see one, but even though the book
does not touch on the new immunomodulating and chemo therapies now widely used in treating MS, it remains an extremely useful book in any "MS
library." I have yet to read a better, overall explanation of this baffling disease, and have recommended it to many.

Incidentally, the new therapies not covered in this book, were initially available only beginning in the early 90s, and then, only through a lottery. This is
why they are not touched on in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Factual parts are fine, but attitudes about MS are icky IMHO
Review: There is some good information in this book dealing with some of the factual bits about MS, but their attitude about MS is really unhealthy in my opinion. The authors have a very "Don't talk about it, don't tell anyone, lie to your bosses if necessary, ignore it for the most part and maybe it will go away. That is their practical advice.

Rating:
Summary: Do not buy this book
Review: This book was the book I should NOT have read when I was dxed. It stated that MS does not produce pain. It frustrated me and I thought great, I have two diseases. Why am I in so much pain?
I hope the newer editions have deleted this misleading information.

Rating:
Summary: Do not buy this book
Review: This book was the book I should NOT have read when I was dxed. It stated that MS does not produce pain. It frustrated me and I thought great, I have two diseases. Why am I in so much pain?
I hope the newer editions have deleted this misleading information.

Rating:
Summary: A Positive look at MS
Review: This is a book that gave me hope shortly after being diagnosed. It is a book I bought a number of copies of to loan to family and friends. It does a good job of telling about MS without being quite so scary as most. It really could use some updating, a lot of advances have been made since it was published.