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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
MME for Slowly Progressive MS - Turning a MS patient into a Prankster - JD
MME for relapsing and remitting MS - Finally a Good Night's Sleep - OM
MME for Slowly Progressive MS - Turning a MS patient into a Prankster - JD
In 1984, while at work, JD experienced chest discomfort and sudden onset upper extremity weakness. Neurological dysfunction progressed rapidly. JD was hospitalized with a scenario of upper and lower extremity paralysis; he retained sensory function only over his head, face, and neck. JD's physicians were unclear as to the cause of this sudden, essentially quadriplegic paralysis, but with supportive care, JD slowly improved. Following rehab and physical therapy JD was later able to return to work. Neurological symptoms returned in 1989, then with predominate lower extremity weakness and spasticity. Multiple sclerosis (MS) was diagnosed, and despite medical treatment, has been slowly progressive.
JD was troubled by generalized weakness, more so over the right side of his body. When feeling well, JD could walk slowly with a cane, but in response to stress, heat, or humidity, coordination and muscle strength would both deteriorate. He had diploplia (double vision), such that with one eye closed he could see reasonably well, but if he used both eyes together, they would cross and blur. If he pushed himself physically, his muscles would draw up and he would experience spasticity (persistent muscle activation or clenching). Bladder dysfunction was a major issue. Despite Detrol (bladder control agent), JD would need to empty his bladder every 30 to 60 minutes; he was up every hour at night and car trips were an obvious difficulty.
JD has seen several neurologists and works with a physical therapist; he has been treated with steroid anti-inflammatory agents, IV and oral. Periodic B-12 injections give him an energy lift. Baclofen and Pemoline are on board to combat muscle spasticity, and JD receives periodic injections of Avonex (beta-1a-interferon), an immune system modulator. JD undergoes periodic brain MRI studies to monitor the anatomic status of his disease. The most recent exam of 3/03 described an extensive lesion burden (we describe areas of abnormality on scanning studies as "lesions"), numerous black holes (I don't know exactly what a "black hole" is but it doesn't sound like a good thing), and moderate brain atrophy.
Just what "causes" MS is clear to no one. Likely there are many factors, or perhaps a number of biological "fail-safes" that must all fail together to allow an individual to be stricken with this disease, but a link has been established between MS and Mercury. Many individuals with MS have improved following Mercury detoxification, while others have not (again, it is not reasonable to assume that there is just "one cause" of a complicated disease such as MS). The negative magnetic field provided by MME assists in metal detoxification, speeds healing of damaged structures, and, we feel, stimulates stem cell proliferation in the brain, a constellation of effects that should be of benefit to patients like JD. Patients with MS have benefited from MME - please see "Clinical observations on MME on MS patients" in the Abstracts and Publications section. JD and I discussed what we do know and what we don't know about the use of MME in MS and he decided to undergo MME treatment.
To conserve on costs, JD did not undergo a two month pre-MME program of oral DMSA and night-time negative magnetic field therapy on a Magnetico sleep pad (a mistake on my part - I should have pushed here). JD has a number of Mercury fillings, and these were not removed (again, aiming to decrease costs). He did receive an initial 212 hours of MME over 17 days. He did receive 500 mg of oral DMSA at the beginning of each session and again six hours into each MME session, along with daily 400 mg dose of Liposomal Glutathione (key brain antioxidant and detoxifier), and this program worked.
JD was not "cured" of his MS, nor did we expect him to be, but JD got better. His energy level has picked up and his mood is optimistic (of course, his mood was never pessimistic). JD has less difficulty getting around, and less difficulty getting in and out of his car. Bladder function has improved, such that he can drive longer without having to stop to empty his bladder; lower GI function has also improved a little. JD reports that post-exercise transient spasticity in his right leg may be a little worse - this may be part of the healing process and hopefully will be only a temporary phenomena.
JD and I were both pleased with his response to MME. Post-MME JD began sleeping on a 10 Gauss Magnetico pad and took DMSA, 500 mg at bedtime, in a 11 night on - 11 night off cycle. Two months later he returned for an additional 50 hours of MME. Of great interest to us (and to JD of course), JD improved further during his two month break. Activity that previously would wear him down was now less difficult; his ability to transfer from one position to another (i.e. in and out of a car) also improved. As of completion of the 50 hour booster MME session, JD reports that bladder function has further improved. During the day, he now has to empty his bladder only once every 4-6 hours, and some nights he doesn't even need to get up once, JD can now sleep soundly (remember, he was getting up multiple times every night), His ability to exercise, to transfer, and basically his ability to enjoy life have all improved. JD's attitude was never poor, but he was an ill man - but now he's a prankster.
As JD was completing his 50 hour MME booster, I got a call late one night from Ashley, a medical student and one of our MME technicians. "Dr. Roberts - there's an animal in the office!". When in the technician's station, Ashley was hearing sounds, similar to the "baa" of a sheep. When she would approach the MME treatment areas, to locate the source of the sound, the sound would stop. This occurred several times over a one hour period. She was concerned that an animal might be caught on the roof or may have gotten into the duct work. She was worried that the animal could sense her presence, and stop making the noise. Ashley called me at home and described her concerns. Of interest, that day I had read a newspaper article describing how lion tracks had been found on the grounds of the Reagan library, and that authorities feared that a pet or zoo lion had gotten out and was roaming the countryside. Well, it didn't sound like Ashley or the patients were in any danger, and it would be a long roam from the Reagan library to Toledo, so I fell back asleep, the animal mystery unresolved.
The "animal mystery" was solved the following day. JD had developed a good rapport with Ashley (who will make a great clinician), and as it was his last night of MME, and as he was feeling so much better, he decided to play a little prank on her. JD had a deer whistle, which made a sound similar to the "baa" of a sheep, the sound that Ashley heard. He would blow the whistle every two minutes, but when she approached the treatment area, hw would stop, and then start again, in an effort to drive her crazy, which he did. At the end of the treatment session, JD confessed to his prankster ship, an everybody laughed. Practicing medicine can certainly be fun, especially when your sick patients become pranksters.
Our plan will be for JD to continue to sleep on the negative field sleep pad, and to take DMSA on the same 11 night on, 11 night off cycle. On the assumption that Mercury may be playing a role in his illness, JD will probably have his Mercury amalgams removed (with dental and medical precautions to minimize Mercury exposure during the extraction process), and we will probably treat him with additional MME in the future. What is interesting abut JD's response, was that much of his response was a delayed response. He was getting better during his original 214 hours of MME, but he continued to improve post-MME. The sleep pad and oral DMSA had something to do with this, but also I think that his initial MME set into motion a reparative process that needed some time to show itself as an improvement in symptoms. This really shouldn't surprise us, given the slow growth rate of nerve cells. The same phenomena has been observed in patients treated with MME for spinal cord injury. This raises the question as to whether patients with neurological disease states should be treated with consecutive hours or in a staggered format (If you age going to get 200 hours, should it be 10 hours a day for 20 days or should we give you 100 hours, break for a month, then give you another 100 hours?) These questions will be answered as we gain more experience and carry out clinical studies, but for now, as far as JD is concerned, MME worked for his MS.
Had I to treat JD over, I would have pushed for JD to undergo the pre-MME treatment program (but here I am spending the patient's money, so here I tend to be conservative). JD also might have benefited from the same growth factor therapy that seems to be helping SB recover from spinal cord injury with MME. Colleagues have suggested oral modified silver protein, to kill viruses and bacteria that could damage the stem cells we are attempting to proliferate, and moderate dose Vitamin C, to quell free-radical inflammation that might also be working against us. Our "best approach" in MME for MS will certainly evolve over time, the nature of what we do in this practice. For now, JD got better. We are optimistic that he will improve further with the measures outlined above, and hopeful that his course of MME will blunt the up-to-this-point progressive nature of his underlying MS.
MME for Relapsing and Remitting MS - Finally a Good Night's Sleep - OM
OM was diagnosed with MS in 1991, but in retrospect, her symptoms had been building up over several years. OM was having trouble getting around. Her balance was off and weakness was present in her right leg and foot. Bladder function was poor; she had to empty her bladder every 1-2 hours. Sleep was awful. First, OM was troubled by insomnia; she couldn't fall asleep without Temazepam, a prescription sleep aid. Second, OM had to get up several times each night to empty her bladder. She wasn't getting rest at night so she was tired during the day. Her brain MRI returned abnormal, and the diagnosis of MS was made. OM's therapy has consisted of Immuran (an immune suppressant) and Rebiff (beta-1a-interferon, an immune system modulator). Exacerbations of MS initially responded well to intravenous methylprednisolone (cortisol like agent), but recently this agent has been less helpful. OM's MS is being managed by neurologists at a major Midwestern medical center. She had received the best that pharmacological medicine could offer, but her MS symptoms remained troubling to her - OM was "stuck". OM heard about MME, looked through our information, and came in to see us.
Keeping in mind the potential link between neurological illness and heavy metal overload, a provocative metal challenge study was carried out, revealing mobilizeable spills of Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, and Aluminum. OM began a program of fish oil, antioxidant, and mineral supplementation, along with 400 mg/day of liposomal (allows oral absorption) glutathione (our primary intracellular antioxidant and detoxifier). She began sleeping on a Magnetico negative magnetic field sleep pad, and she took oral DMSA (metal binding agent) at bedtime in an 11 night on - 11 night off format.
Formal MME began 2 months later. OM received 200 hours over a five week period. Early on nothing happened. Then her chiropractor noted that her adjustments were easier to carry out. Subtle improvements then developed in many of her symptoms. At the 200 hour point, OM hasn't noticed much improvement in her right lower extremity weakness; she rates this as only 20% improved. Bladder function has improved considerably, 60-70% by OM's estimate, and sleep by 70%. Temazepam is no longer required, and OM can now sleep for 4-5 hours without having to get up to empty her bladder. The improvement in sleep has led to a reduction in daytime fatigue
OM will continue on the magnetic sleep pad and cyclic oral DMSA. In two months she will be re-evaluated. Her metal challenge study will be repeated, to asses efficacy of her metal detoxification program. We hope to see a late post-MME further improvement in her MS symptoms (as we did with JD). Further MME may be carried out, depending on how OM is doing. OM will continue her nutritional program and pharmacological MS treatments, and she will continue to work with her neurologist. We are not competing with neurologists and I'm certainly not a neurologist, but I've got an MME machine, and I know how to us it. If we can help patients who are "stuck", no longer or only incompletely responding to the best of pharmacological MS care, then we can and will try our best to help them with MME. This approach works in my cardiology practice, and it seems to be working here as well.
AMRI of NW Ohio provides MME treatment under the guidelines of an Investigational Review Board, consistent with FDA regulations.
Please note that MME treatment is considered to be experimental by the FDA. Although many patients have improved, no guarantee of success is implied.