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Multiple Sclerosis short-circuits the wiring in the brain, causing loss of feeling, vision problems, fatigue and weakness.

About 400-thousand Americans have MS.

Medical Breakthrough has a new vaccine that's showing promise.

"So you smashed your shin when?" Sue Carlson asks a patient.

She works up to 12 hours a day helping others feel better as a massage therapist.

"There's nothing I can't do," she says.

But four years ago, Sue could barely muster enough energy to work a half day. Multiple Sclerosis weakened the entire right side of her body.

"I had to move a body part predominately with my left side and prop it up on pillows or towels or blankets in order to do the work I needed to do," says Sue.

But after six months on an experimental vaccine called Neurovax, her strength came back.

"And it just kept getting better and better and better," she says.

Neurovax works by increasing the number of disease-fighting white blood cells in the immune system. It did that for all 40-patients who received it.

Unlike standard treatments, which have to be given daily or weekly, the vaccine only has to be given once a month, and it doesn't cause flu-like side effects.

"What patients want are treatments that are not only effective, but also aren't not impacting their quality of life because of side effects," says neurologist Dr. Dennis Bourdette.

Researchers say the results are encouraging, but larger studies are needed before it can be approved.

"We still have to have a large enough trial that goes on for a minimum of two years where we see a difference between the vaccinated patients and the control group or the placebo group," says Dr. Arthur Vandenbark.

After a year without an injection, Sue is waiting for a new trial to begin, hoping that another dose of the vaccine will give her even more strength.

Patients say the only side effect of the vaccine is a sore arm.

Both doctors work out of the Oregon Health and Science University/Portland V.A. Medical Center in Portland, Oregon.

You can get more information by logging on to http://www.ohsu.edu/ms or http://www.ivanhoe.com.

Watch the latest Medical Breakthrough every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on NewsChannel 8 at 5 and every Monday and Wednesday on NewsChannel 8 at 10.

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