Your doctor has told you that you have multiple sclerosis. This disease affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Symptoms may vary with each attack. They may last days to months, then lessen or go away, and then come back after weeks, months, or sometimes years.
Over time, symptoms get worse, and it becomes more difficult to take care of yourself.
Exercise can help your muscles stay loose and help you keep your balance. It is good for your heart. It may also help you sleep better and have regular bowel movements.
Keep from getting overheated. Increased body temperature can make your symptoms worse.
If you have problems with spasticity, learn about what makes it worse. You or your caregiver can learn exercises to keep muscles loose. See also: Caring for muscle spasticity or spasms
Make sure your home is safe. See also:
If you are having trouble moving around in your house easily, talk with your nurse or doctor about getting help.
Your doctor or nurse can refer you to a physical therapist to help with:
You may have problems starting to urinate or emptying all of the urine out of your bladder. Your bladder may empty too often or at the wrong time. Your bladder may become too full, and you may leak urine out of an overfilled bladder. See also: Urinary incontinence - self-care
Medication sometimes helps when your bladder is not working correctly. Some people with multiple sclerosis need to use a urinary catheter. This is a thin tube that is inserted into your bladder.
See also:
Your doctor or nurse may also teach you some exercises to help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. See also: Kegel exercises
Urinary infections are common in people with multiple sclerosis. Learn to recognize the symptoms, such as burning when you urinate, fever, low back pain on one side, and a more frequent need to urinate.
Do not hold your urine. When you feel the urge to urinate, go to the bathroom. When you are not at home, take note of the location of the nearest bathroom.
If you have multiple sclerosis, you may trouble controlling your bowels . Have a routine. Once you find a bowel routine that works, stick with it. See also: Daily bowel care program
Avoid constipation:
Ask your doctor about medicines you, or your loved one, are taking that may cause constipation (such as some medicines for depression, pain, bladder control, and muscle spasms).
If you are in a wheelchair or bed most of the day, you need to check out your skin every day for signs of pressure sores. Look closely at:
Learn how to prevent pressure sores. See also: Preventing pressure ulcers
Keep up to date with your vaccinations. Get a flu shot every year. Ask your doctor if you need a pneumonia shot.
Ask your doctor about other checkups you may need, such as to test your cholesterol level, blood sugar level, and a bone scan for osteoporosis.
Eat a healthy diet and keep from becoming overweight.
Learn to manage stress. Many patients with multiple sclerosis feel sad or depressed at times. Talk to friends or family about this. Ask your doctor about seeing a professional to help you with these feelings.
People with multiple sclerosis often get tired more easily than others. Pace yourself when you do activates that may be tiring or need a lot of concentration.
Your doctor may place you on different medicines to treat your multiple sclerosis and many of the problems that may come with it.
Call your doctor if you have:
MS - discharge
Calabresi P. Multiple sclerosis and demyelinating conditions of the central nervous system. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 436.
Miller DH, Leary SM. Primary-progressive multiple sclerosis. Lancet Neurol. 2007;6:903-912.
Updated by: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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