CLEVELAND -- Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the nervous system, leaving its victims immobile.

But NewsChannel5 reported that researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have made a discovery that may eventually stop the deterioration of healthy brain cells in patients.

"I've made life decisions because of it," said Margie Heines, a multiple sclerosis patient. "I've done certain things the way I've done them, because I knew I had the disease."

Researchers have discovered that brain cells that were once thought to be destroyed by multiple sclerosis can now be repaired by the brain.

Although the news is a major breakthrough, there is one setback: The cells can't seem to complete the repair. But researchers are hopeful that something as simple as medication may be the final step.

"Drug therapies may be developed that will enable these cells to complete the repair process, and second, the alternative therapy of replacing the destroyed cells by transplanting cells into the brain may not be necessary," said Dr. Bruce Trapp of the Cleveland Clinic.

Patients like Heines who take other drugs to help slow the effects of the disease are very excited by the news.

"I would take something else if I knew that it was going to reverse the damage, because even with Avonex, the damage is still happening -- just at a slower rate," she said. "I would take anything that would reverse the damage. I'd be a guinea pig. I would."

The Cleveland Clinic has one of the largest multiple sclerosis research labs in the world, NewsChannel5 reported.