Dear Donna I was diagnosed 6 years ago with PPMS. I have done extensive research (I am a lawyer, but work as a research professor), and it seems to me that there is no clear medical intervention that exists to control, or delay the onset of PPMS and it's symptoms.   I have concluded that anit-viral drugs may help. There has been recent research on the linking of the HPV9 virus - i.e. the common chicken pox and shingles virus,and MS. The theory is that the HPV9 virus is a very similar molecule to the molecular structure of the melalin which acts as the insulating sheaf for our nerves and, as such some of us who have HPV9 (and most people do), have our own white blood cell system attacks the molecules of the melalin rather, or as well as, the virus molecules.   This work is still in the early stage, however, I did not have chicken pox until I was an adult (in my mid-30s), and only after did I start to get a variety of symptoms which on relfection were related to MS. Since having been diagnosed I have had numerous bouts of shingles. What happens is that I start to feel rather poorly because of the MS, and as this progresses about 3 weeks into it, I come out in shingles. It has taken a long time , but when I finally persuaded my doctor to give me anti-virals for the shingles, my MS symtoms got some relief. They never leave me, but there are some 'better' times as well as the bad times.   I have done my best to continue as normal (but the symptoms, which have included reduced mobility, pain, reduced sight, deafness, difficulty passing urine and faeces, and fatigue have progressed to the stage where though I still work fulltime, I do it on a 'wing and a prayer' and I am very reliant on a workplace system where nobody makes a decision about anything - including me. However I have found that time with my family has really suffered, between trying to keep abreast of my work and managing the fatigue.   I cannot give a great deal of hope - but continuing to use the stairs has helped considerably with keeping me on my feet, a strict stretching routine has helped reduce the worse aspects of muscle spasms, and my medication has also helped reduce the pain and the symptoms. I take 200mg Tramadol twice daily for general pain relief, 150mg Pregabelin (lyrica) twice daily for neuropathic pain relief, and 200mg nefazodone (an anit-depressant) twice daily initally for headache relief but also now as an anti-depressant.   Things are not perfect - but then life isn't like that, but we have just had a wonderful christmas together as a family, I even ventured a couple of hundred yards from the car to feed the ducks - and though it was a struggle to get back, it really lifted all of our spirits. I would not want to give MS to my worst enemy, but it doesn't have to be taken lying down. Take the medication - so what if you become addicted - better that than suffering for the rest of your life, and accept that though remissions are rare, they can sometimes happen - maybe only in one small area, but they do. I have just recently rediscovered colour, I was seeing everything through a grey veil, but 3 weeks ago it lifted and I am going around looking and remembering the feelings that colours bring with them. That way when I next can't see them again, I will still know they really do exist.    It is your attitude that matters - you won't be cheerful all of the time, but you certainly can be some of the time, and remember it isn't just about you but also about your family and loved one's  - they are also greiving for the life you expected to have, they also need your help to manage this.   Good luck and keep your chin up Steve