b'Aswethinkaboutmoreeectivetherapies 60chemicalcompoundscalledcannabinoids,inMS,researchintotheroleofhematopoietic includingTHCandCBD.Researchhasshownstemcelltransplantationcontinues.Withthis thatthesecannabinoidsmaybebenecialinprocedure,theimmunesystemisessentially managingspasmsandspasticity,centralrebooted.Patientselectionmaybethekeyto neuropathicpain,andurinaryurgencyandndingtherightbalancebetweenrisksand frequency.Theseeectsarelikelymediatedbenets.Itappearsthattheidealpatientis throughthehumanendocannabinoidsystembelowtheageof50andhasactiverelapsing inourcentralnervoussystem.HumansalsoMS(newlesionsonMRIandrelapses).Ifthe have endocannabinoid receptors on mostsafetyofthisprocedureimproves,itcould cellsofourimmunesystem.Thesereceptorspossiblybearst-linetreatmentoptionfor appeartobeanti-inflammatoryinnature.peoplewithMSinthefuture. Couldcannabinoidsplayaroleasanti-TheHolyGrailofMScareisneuralrepair. inammatoryagents?AsthelegallandscapeByrepairingareasofdamagedmyelinand continuestoevolveregardingthemedicalaxonsorreroutinginformationaroundareas useofcannabinoids,2020willalsoseetheofdamage,thehopeisthatwemaybeableto initiationofPhaseIIIstudiesofSativex(a1:1reversedisability.Numerousresearchprojects mixtureofCBD/THCsprayinasublingualaroundtheworldarefocusingonthis.Itcould spray)formanagingspasms/spasticityinMS.be that the answer to reversing disability Finally,thefuturewillseeanincreasingendsupcomingfromanon-MSeld,such understandingoftheimportanceofexerciseasspinalcordinjury.Currently,phaseIIstudies andwellnessinMS.ThepersonwithMSwillareongoingwithamoleculeImexcitedabout, notlikelydiefromtheirMS.Theywilllikelyelezanumab. If this monoclonal antibody diefromheartdisease,cancer,orastroke.doeswhatwehopeitwill,itshouldregenerate Staying active and avoiding cigarettes areaxonsinthebrainandspinalcord. important.TheroleofcannabisinMSwillcontinueto ThefutureofMSmanagementisbrightevolve.Thecannabisplantcontainsmorethan andexciting.Lookaheadtobetterdays!How do you naviBate vision-related MSsymptoms in your daily life?Gretchen Steele: Include annual visits to an ophthalmologist (preferably one with experience inMS-related visual issues) versus only visiting an optometrist. Fully explain any visual issues you areexperiencing, especially if new during an ophthalmology visit. Inquire about solutions that can beutilized for low vision, double vision, etc. Use access tools on computers, tablets etc. to improvereadability. Utilize large-print materials when available. If troubled with double vision, inquire if prismsin glasses can help to correct. Be your own advocate. Track your visual issues to note any trends orchanges and report accordingly (e.g. only experience double vision when tired or hot, etc.) Realizethat not all visual problems are, can, or will be the result of the MS.35 msfocusmagazine.org'