Multiple Sclerosis: What It Is, Who Gets It, and What You Can Do about It

I was in the library and happen to notice this book written by Dr. Rosner who treated my father over 40 years ago. My father was a young man as Dr. Rosner must have been. My father passed away when I was 12, I am now 50 and as I scanned through the book it gladdened my heart to read how gentle and compassionate Dr. Rosner came across and I would like to think he gave my father this type of care.

This book has been very enlightening for me. It was a great read and gave me courage as well as hope in a cure for MS. It is a definite must-read for the newly-diagnosed.

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.

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.