Treatments for Systemic Autoimmune Conditions
Dr Hitesh Manga specialises in the treatment of systemic autoimmune conditions. Treatments are available in the Port Elizabeth region, focusing on conditions such as multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.
What are systemic autoimmune conditions?
Systemic autoimmune conditions involve the whole body instead of the affected area only. This means these conditions can affect the entire body, including tissues and organs. There are many different ways in which systemic conditions can occur. For example, you can get systemic allergic diseases, associated with numerous comorbid disorders. Arthritis can also be a systemic disease.
Types of systemic autoimmune conditions
Two common conditions include multiple sclerosis (MS) and psoriasis, both explored in further detail below.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves. Damage to the myelin sheath disrupts signals between the brain and the rest of the body and, in time, damages the nerves themselves. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) production leads to cell death and oxidative stress, which has been implicated as a key mediator of the demyelination.
MS is characterised by a considerable number of symptoms that change in incidence and intensity depending on the nerves affected. Several forms of MS also vary in their course of progression.
There are no known cures for MS. Numerous medications are available that target disease progression, delay relapses and alleviate symptoms. Cryotherapy has shown to increase a general sense of wellbeing and it was on this basis that health centres started to use this form of treatment as a therapy in MS. Since that time, many additional clinical benefits have been published.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune-mediated chronic inflammation of the skin, characterised by patches of red or white scaly skin. Normal skin cells flake off every four weeks and new skin cells grow to replace the ones that are lost.
In psoriasis, skin cells known as keratinocytes grow too quickly and build up to form the thickened scaly patches. It appears most often on the scalp, elbows, ankles, hands, feet and the lower-back. It can also affect the fingernails and toenails. In some cases, psoriasis leads to inflammation in the joints leading to psoriatic arthritis.
Our approach to treating systemic autoimmune conditions
At our practice, we utilise a combination of traditional treatments alongside the latest technologies to treat these conditions.
Cryotherapy is used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Generalised improvement in MS has been observed, and the overall therapeutic effects are attributed to the multi-component effect of cryotherapy: influencing the central nervous system, regulating muscle activity, inhibiting inflammation, providing pain relief, and positively affecting emotional wellbeing.
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The recommended treatment course is 20 2-3 minute treatments repeated 2-3 times a year, in association with physiotherapy or supervised exercise programmes.
Cryotherapy is also used in the treatment of psoriasis.
The benefits of cryotherapy in the treatment of psoriasis include:
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Protocols suggest 25 to 30 2-3 minute treatments over two weeks. Results are most evident in the skin, with decreased itchiness and flakiness within a few days. Results have shown to last for 3 to 6 months after a course of treatments.
Schedule an appointment and begin your path to pain relief today.
Accredited / Member of:
CASA
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IOD Medical Center
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